Thoroughbred Owner Breeder

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£6.95 MARCH 2022 ISSUE 211

Pressing ahead Venetia Williams primes stable stars for Cheltenham challenge

PLUS

Michael Buckley

Owner’s big Festival fancy

National Hunt sires Jumps brigade in focus

Fresh breeze

Goffs breaks new ground in Dubai

www.theownerbreeder.com

Kingman Invincible Spirit - Zenda (Zamindar)

Raising the stakes Kingman is the only European stallion to cover over 300 stakes winners and over 200 Group winners between 2019-21, including 80 Group 1 winners and 51 dams of Group 1 winners.

Stallion

Stakes Winners Covered

Group Winners Covered

Kingman

324

218

Dubawi

268

198

Frankel

267

173

Galileo

197

156

Lope de Vega

257

137

Sea The Stars

230

131

Contact Shane Horan, Henry Bletsoe or Claire Curry +44 (0)1638 731115 | nominations@juddmonte.co.uk

www.juddmonte.com Source: Data supplied by Weatherbys

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£6.95 MARCH 2022 ISSUE 211

Pressing ahead Venetia Williams primes stable stars for Cheltenham challenge

PLUS

Michael Buckley

Owner’s big Festival fancy

National Hunt sires Jumps brigade in focus

Fresh breeze

Goffs breaks new ground in Dubai

www.theownerbreeder.com

Cover: Venetia Williams at her Aramstone Stables in Herefordshire with Grade 1 winner L’Homme Presse, a contender for the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Festival Photo: Bill Selwyn

Edward Rosenthal Editor

Venetia and co catch the Cheltenham express T

he Cheltenham Festival theme runs throughout this issue, featuring interviews with those hoping to strike it lucky at this month’s four-day spectacular, namely trainer Venetia Williams and owner Michael Buckley, a focus on National Hunt sires, some of which will have their reputations enhanced by events in Gloucestershire, even extending to our back page catch-up with Michael Dickinson, who sent out his ‘famous five’ in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Venetia Williams has long been recognised as Britain’s foremost female National Hunt trainer and is enjoying an excellent season, buoyed by her first top-level success in two decades courtesy of the exciting L’Homme Presse, 21-length winner of the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown in early February.

The 2012/13 season saw the Williams stable hit the 90-winner mark and while that figure has not been achieved since, the Herefordshire-based handler was operating at a strike-rate of 25% at the time of writing, better than that of both Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls.

It’s not only L’Homme Presse that will be making the journey to the Cotswolds as Royale Pagaille, Funambule Sivola, Green Book, Brave Seasca and Fanion D’Estruval all look set to take their chances among around a dozen potential runners.

One interesting aspect of the Williams squad is that all the runners named above carry the FR suffix. Ireland’s conveyor belt continues to produce young NH horses of prodigious talent – something the breeding industry in the UK is keen to replicate – yet Williams is sticking to her tried and tested methods.

“By and large I think there’s better value to be had in France, so why change a winning formula?” Williams tells James Thomas (The Big Interview, pages 22-26), having also sourced her 2009 Grand National victor Mon Mome across the Channel.

Michael Buckley’s big Festival hope this year is Constitution Hill, bred in Britain by Sally Noott (see Breeder of the Month, page 82) and purchased at the Goffs UK Spring Sale after

finishing runner-up on his sole point-to-point outing in Ireland.

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, which kicks off proceedings on the opening day of the Festival, is the target for this exciting five-year-old, unbeaten in two starts for Buckley and trainer Nicky Henderson and who made a big impression when storming home by 12 lengths in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on January 8.

Buckley has experienced many highs and lows in racehorse ownership since taking the plunge in the 1970s. Exactly how good his latest prospect is remains to be seen – the owner himself is unsure.

“I decided to buy this horse at the sales last year and it’s possible I’ve got lucky. Well, I have got lucky – maybe I’ve got very lucky. The horse

“Her strike-rate is currently better than both Nicholls and Henderson” has to do it on a much bigger stage now – but he looks very promising,” Buckley says (pages 28-32).

Michael Dickinson switched from training jumpers in Britain to Flat horses in the USA, reaching the top in both disciplines. He then moved into the world of all-weather surfaces, developing Tapeta, which is now utilised by racecourses all around the globe, including at Newcastle, Wolverhampton and Southwell.

Graham Dench finds out what Dickinson regards as his greatest achievement in horseracing and why the 72-year-old, a regular visitor to the Cheltenham Festival in the preCovid era, could soon be returning to these shores on a permanent basis (The Finish Line, page 88).

THE OWNER BREEDER

1

Contents

March 2022

22

News & Views ROA Leader Protecting racing's revenues and image

TBA Leader Enhancements and ideas essential

News Oisin Murphy hit with 14-month ban

Changes News in a nutshell

Howard Wright Ways to refresh racing

7 9 11 14 20

Features The Big Picture Imperial Alcazar strikes

Venetia Williams Trainer's season to remember

Michael Buckley Owner back in the big time

National Hunt sires No shortage of choice in Britain and Ireland

Breeze-up season Hopes run high for Goffs' first Dubai Sale

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18 22 28 34

28 46

››

An eye for success

March 2022

visit studlife online: tweenhills.com/studlife

MAGNIFICENT ELEVEN So far there have been eleven Kameko foals born at Tweenhills and we are delighted with them!

Dual Gr.1 winner and Royal Ascot heroine Con Te Partiro was bought for U$1.5m specifically to breed with Kameko and her first foal, a filly, was born on January 30.

If you follow us on Twitter (@Tweenhills) you’ll know our first Kameko foal was born on January 13, a very sharp colt out

of multiple Stakes-placed sprinter Golden Spell.

Another stunning Kameko foal was produced by Listed winner Diamonds Pour Moi, a 64kg colt. Our other mares with Kameko foals on the ground are Stakes performers Ripples Maid, Out Of The Flames, Natural, Pure Joy and An Ghalanta, Stakes producer Really Lovely, another Galileo mare Terrify and Having A Blast.

Wow! Run Wild’s gorgeous daughter with Alicia

WILD BEAUTY Run Wild, the star of the Tweenhills Fillies Syndicate after winning a Listed race impressively before running in a Gr.1 at Royal Ascot, gave birth to her first foal on January 29.

Certainly his father’s son! Kameko x Golden Spell colt with Dayna

2022 Champion First Season Sire 5l2 ZOUSTAR 16l1 ROARING LION

, bought Meet our new Herd Sire ‘Rawburn E Type’ ner Aucamp Wer ager privately by Tweenhills Farm Man

Another striking Kameko, this time out of the Group placed 2yo Out Of The Flames

The filly by Siyouni weighed in at 56kg – a very good size for a first foal – and exudes class, a real dead ringer for her mother! Run Wild and her daughter are owned by David Howden and Nick Wheeler’s Cornthrop Bloodstock.

WIN AN AMAZING TRIP TO THE QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS Use the QR code to sign up to the new Tweenhills Studlife e-newsletter.

All new subscribers will enter a draw to win two tickets to the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and lunch at Newmarket on Saturday April 30!

Kameko was reunited with trainer Andrew Balding and jockey Oisin Murphy, who also viewed some of his impressive first foals at Tweenhills.

Tweenhills, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, GL19 3BG

l and Tweenhills Yearling Manager Scott Marshal – getting Harves Legacy – owned by Nicola Mooney their first well g bein ready for the Eventing season; all event will be at Swalcliffe Park in March

Fantastic photo of Tweenhills at

dusk by Charlie Redvers

W: www.tweenhills.com T: + 44 (0) 1452 700177 M: + 44 (0) 7767 436373 E: davidredvers@tweenhills.com

11532 - Tweenhills Stud Life - March 2022_V7.indd 1

22/02/2022 14:28

Contents 34

››

Features continued Breeders' Digest

Saudi Arabian ambition on the rise

Sales Circuit

Strong sales season continues

Caulfield Files

The mighty legacy of Dansili

Dr Statz

The value of buying at breeze-up sales

The Finish Line With Michael Dickinson

88 51 52 62 64 88

Forum ROA Forum

Enjoy Aintree in style

TBA Forum Stallions on show

Breeder of the Month Sally Noott for Constitution Hill

Great British Bonus Latest news and winners

Vet Forum

Optimum reproductive health in focus

4

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66 76 82 83 84

Did you know?

Our monthly average readership is

20,000

LADY BOWTHORPE

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Champion 11-time Gr.1 winner

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Big hurdles off course as Festival fever begins

F

or every single one of the thousands of owners and racegoers in this country, March is a time full of expectation and promise. March means Cheltenham. We all know that whether at home or on the course, the Festival rarely disappoints.

This year is set to be another thriller with Shishkin and Energumene ready to do battle in the Champion Chase and the age-old rivalry of the Irish and British trainers reignited once more, with the home team, led by Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls, hoping to avoid another humiliation. Add in the return of the turf Flat season with the promise of the new two-year-old crop and it really is an exciting month for racing.

Yet, as highlighted last month, the Gambling Act Review still rumbles on and, whilst we have seen the sport’s green shoots of recovery, racing has some much longer-term, gnarly issues to deal with, threatening both the recovery and our sport’s future.

The recent developments in the US around doping highlight one area of concern that cannot be ignored just because of the jurisdiction. This is an incredibly problematic and saddening issue. The sorry tales of Jorge Navarro and Seth Fishman and the ongoing attempts by the New York Racing Association to suspend Bob Baffert put racing and its reputation at risk.

The NYRA argued in its case against Baffert that doping is an existential threat to the sport of racing. A news article following the case noted it could condemn the sport “to the graveyard of passe pastimes alongside… circus animal acts”.

Whatever you think, the impact of doping is widespread and extends beyond our sport. It is both a credibility and a welfare issue. Racing is competition at its purest, underpinned by a sense of fairness and honour. When credibility of competition is eroded it undermines the whole sport and attacks the funding model upon which the industry is based. Removing credibility and a level playing field has the potential to destroy the sport. It makes it less attractive to new owners and less trusted by those that take part.

The inability to maintain high welfare standards also undermines our sport. Doping, in most of the recent cases, appears to have a negative impact on a horse’s welfare. At a time when welfare is a priority for our sport, these episodes only set us back in the perceptions of the public and, most concerningly, those who would see our sport banned. Add the recent abhorrent cases of apparent abuse of horses themselves and we are all on shaky ground.

Issues like doping negatively impact the external perception of racing as a sport. To run races in this country we rely on the buy-in of those who do not go racing. Racing requires the tacit consent of the society within which it operates. I am confident that in the UK we have a strong anti-doping stance, for the good of the sport and the horse if nothing else. We must remain on high alert that

advances made by the dopers is matched and bettered by our own integrity and policing departments.

Racing’s finances and funding are another of those gnarly, long-term issues. Last month I wrote about the need to ensure that our government and political representatives fully understood the impact of potential changes to legislation as a result of the Gambling Act review.

I am chiefly concerned that there is not a full and proper understanding of the close relationship between the gambling industry and the horseracing industry. A hit to one is a hit to the other. Racing, given its current financial state, could not sustain a significant loss of revenue.

Encouragingly, a recent exchange in the House of Commons

“Removing credibility and a level playing field has the potential to destroy the sport” between the Minister responsible for the review, Chris Philp MP, and long-term supporter of the industry Andrew Bridgen MP delivered a ray of sunshine: when asked whether there will be an impact assessment of the draft proposals regarding gambling regulation on horseracing, the Minister replied that “horseracing is a vital sport… and is a significant source of national pride and prestige. Nothing in the Gambling Act review, I hope, will… undermine the financial condition of that great sport”. I too hope that is the case.

The ever-present issues of last year, like funding, distribution and the welfare of horses and participants, will remain on the agenda in 2022. Even with so much excitement on track, it is vital the sport’s leadership continues to focus on these and many other thorny problems to protect racing’s future.

THE OWNER BREEDER

7

TBA Leader

Julian Richmond-Watson Chairman

Incentives needed to keep racing competitive A

nother thoroughbred breeding season is building momentum; most of this year’s mating plans have been finalised and the covering process is well under way. Out of necessity, breeders think and work well ahead, so last year’s foals who will be heading to this year’s yearling sales were the result of mating plans made before virtually all of us had heard of coronavirus or the subsequent Covid-19 pandemic.

The number of foals was already falling below the 2018 figure, and covering statistics for 2021, delivering this year’s foals, were again down from 2019. In this respect the recently published Weatherbys Fact Book gives food for thought.

The active broodmare band in Britain has fallen by ten per cent since 2018, as has the foal crop, and while figures for Ireland are not declining quite so much, there has still been a four per cent drop in its foal crop over the past four years.

Racing, and in particular breeding, cannot be immune from broader economics and, while there is an inevitable time lag, the peaks and troughs of the breeding cycle follow the wider state of the economy. At this stage, it is difficult to be optimistic on that front.

Returns from the major British auction sales act as a barometer. They reveal that in 2019 the top five buyers spent £67 million, but in 2021 that figure fell to £18m. Also in 2019, 15 per cent of the yearlings who fetched over £200,000 were exported straight away, mostly to the US, while in 2021 that figure rose to 40 per cent.

The sales in 2021 were much stronger than many of us had expected, and the results sufficiently encouraged breeders to at least maintain the size of the broodmare band. This in turn allowed stallion owners to maintain or raise the fees for many popular stallions, which will be reflected when foals and yearlings reach the markets in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

It is clear that many other external costs are going to rise substantially, and breeders can expect their wage bills to increase considerably as inflation bites, while another important area of cost, the new National Insurance contributions, are due to be set at a higher level. Most external costs, as well as those relating to employees, will rise beyond stud farmers’ control. The price of feed, fuel and energy supplies have already increased substantially, and many other essential items can be expected to follow suit.

The one ‘internal’ cost that is within the breeding industry’s remit and now has direct relationship with inflation concerns stallion fees. This is where the breeding industry has an opportunity to reflect the real cost of production and make sure enough breeders keep going to maintain horse

population numbers at the level required for the sport to thrive.

The European Breeders Fund (EBF) was set up in 1983 to support prize-money at a time when there was a real concern about the industry being able to attract enough buyers and owners for the crops produced in an economic downturn. The EBF was, and remains, a great contribution by stallion owners to the sport, and the £1.7m it will generate to put into prizemoney in 2022 is very welcome.

Yet, however much the British EBF publicises its contribution, it is doubtful if it is now reflected in sales prices or breeding activity. The breeding industry’s self-help initiative and substantial sponsorship is a great help, but

“The peaks and troughs of the breeding cycle follow the economy. It is difficult to be optimistic” clearly it is not enough if a strong broodmare band and foal crop is to be maintained in Britain.

The 2008 financial crash occurred when economies around the world were buoyant and there was probably some overproduction of foals in the system, but with both Britain and Ireland running at more than 25 per cent below the 2008 numbers, there is bound to be a noticeable knock-on effect from any further reduction.

The Great British Bonus scheme, which was introduced in June 2020, is already making an impact, but the TBA and others within the racing industry have to come up with further enhancements and ideas to ensure our sport maintains a supply of the numbers and quality of horses we need.

THE OWNER BREEDER

9

Al Kazeem TOB-February 2022:Oakgrove Stud

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News

Stories from the racing world

Oisin Murphy banned for 14 months following Covid and alcohol breaches

BILL SELWYN

T

hree-time champion jockey Oisin Murphy will not be able to reapply for his licence until February 2023 after admitting his guilt over five charges brought by the British Horseracing Authority.

The 26-year-old faced an independent judicial panel last month over two charges relating to Covid-19 protocol breaches in 2020, two failed tests for alcohol in 2021, and one overarching accusation of “acting in a manner which is prejudicial to the proper integrity, conduct and good reputation of the sport”.

Murphy, who has won the Flat riders’ title for the last three years, most recently in an extremely tight battle with William Buick in 2021, when any sort of ban would have almost certainly handed the championship to his rival, was told he could not reapply for a licence for 14 months, which is backdated to December 8, the date he surrendered it on to focus on his rehabilitation.

He was given three 11-month suspensions for the two Covid breaches and conduct prejudicial to the reputation of the sport, to run concurrently, along with a £31,111 fine, while he will serve ten days for what amounted to a second alcohol positive for a test at Chester last May, plus a further 90 days for a third positive recorded at Newmarket in October. He will be able to return on February 16, 2023.

Murphy, retained number one rider to Qatar Racing, did not contest any of the charges and told the panel how the effect of the pressures of the jockeys’ title and the BHA’s investigation into his breaking of Covid protocols led to his drinking spiralling “out of control” – an alcohol problem he said was now being managed with professional help.

Panel Chairman James O’Mahony summarised Murphy’s initial attempts to get around the issue of Covid breaches as “a web of deceit to support his original lie”.

Murphy finally came clean about where he had been – to red-listed Greece – last May, after his failed test at Chester, while his next positive test for alcohol came the day after an incident at The Yard pub in Newmarket, where Murphy was allegedly involved in a drunken altercation.

He told the panel: “I would go home, watch replays alone and drink a bottle of

The champion jockey did not contest the five charges and will miss the entire 2022 season

wine or some vodka. It suddenly dawned on me I had a reliance on alcohol. I felt it enabled me to mix with anyone socially, or to get to sleep at night. The Sunday after Goodwood I realised I’d blacked out every night. I knew it was an issue.

“In the evening I could be capable of drinking one glass of wine or ten, and it took me until then [the incident at The Yard and his breathalyser positive the following day] to realise my methods of dealing with pressure and reliance on alcohol. My drinking had become out of control. I have caused a great amount of damage to my reputation along the way.

“I couldn’t undo the past and that initial lie led to all that deceit. Now I’m sober I don’t think I would have made those mistakes. I can’t go back in time, but they were grave errors. I admit to all the breaches, I just wish I could have dealt with them better.”

Delivering the verdict, O’Mahony said: “We conclude you thought you were above the rules, but they apply to all. You had to self isolate, that’s all you had to do, as others had to do. Yet you embarked on a prolonged deception. This was conduct, we’re sorry to say, unworthy of a sportsman and a former champion.”

Buick was immediately chalked up by bookmakers as the odds-on favourite to secure a first title this season after losing out to Murphy by two winners last year, 153 to 151, when the battle went to the wire.

The gap between the two in 2020, when Murphy partnered 11 winners during

the period he was supposed to be self-isolating, was eight, though his solicitor Rory Mac Neice argued that it did not automatically follow that he would not have ended 2020 as champion jockey.

A statement from the BHA read: “Mr Murphy’s breaches of the Rules were extremely serious, reckless and potentially incredibly damaging for the sport. They risked endangering his fellow jockeys and racing industry participants.

“The BHA is proud of the way the industry adapted to the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and how racing was able to restart quickly and successfully behind closed doors. Mr Murphy’s actions put this at risk.

“Mr Murphy also acted with premeditation to deceive the racing industry and public regarding his whereabouts, as well as BHA investigators.”

On a more conciliatory note, the statement continued: “We would, however, also acknowledge that Mr Murphy later made full, public admissions regarding these offences and did not seek to contest the rule breaches at the hearing. He also gave full and frank admissions regarding his personal battles.

“While it is important that this penalty is served and Mr Murphy’s offences are seen to be acted upon, we would also call on everyone in the sport to respect the admissions that he has made about his physical and mental wellbeing and his need for rehabilitation. The BHA will offer any support that Mr Murphy requests in this ongoing process.”

THE OWNER BREEDER

11

News

GEORGE SELWYN\BILL SELWYN

Minimum riding weight increases cause dismay in jockey ranks

Richard Kingscote and Sean Levey have each voiced their displeasure at the riding weight changes

The minimum riding weight on the Flat is set to increase from 8st to 8st 2lb this month, while next month will see the same rise in jump racing, to 10st 2lb.

The general increase, agreed by the industry’s Racing Group and ratified by the BHA board, replaces the 3lb Covid-19 allowance, introduced during the resumption of racing to support jockeys when use of racecourse saunas was not permitted.

However, with saunas now permanently closed, the move was met with widespread dismay by a number of jockeys, who will be worse off by 1lb and without the option of losing weight in a sauna at the racecourse. Further talks on the matter were due to take place.

In order to avoid any compression of the weight structure, which in turn would reduce the competitiveness of British racing, maximum weights will increase in line with the rise at the bottom end. Therefore, from March 26 the standard top weight on the Flat will increase from 10st to 10st 2lb, and on April 29 from 11st 12lb to 12st over jumps.

A 3lb allowance for safety equipment, introduced following the requirement to wear a Level 2 body protector, will remain in place, as will a further 1lb

12

THE OWNER BREEDER

allowance for all Flat jockeys during the winter months to account for an extra layer of warm clothing, a provision that has been in place since 2013.

Classic-winning rider Sean Levey was one of several jockeys to make their displeasure known, saying: “It was a great step forward when Covid hit that they took away the saunas. The [Covid] allowance has helped everyone, from Adam Kirby all the way down to the apprentices who have their claims.

This now seems like one step forward and two steps back.

“The saunas were an easy way to make weight, but we were all in agreement we were happy to get rid of them because of the 3lb filling that void. They’ve now made it twice as difficult to do the weights we still have to do. We’re losing out more than we’re ever gaining.”

Fellow senior rider Richard Kingscote agreed, saying: “Collectively everyone’s not very happy. The saunas have already been ripped out and we’re not keeping our allowance.

“The 2lb may help on a maiden, but it’s not going to help in handicaps. It’s not going to help any of us. We’re back to square one. They’re giving with one hand and taking away with the other.

Everyone’s a little bit miffed and hopefully people can open it [the matter] back up.

“For two years we’ve managed with no saunas because of the extra weight, now we’ve no saunas and no extra weight. That’s only going to lead to young lads throwing up. If you are stuck for doing overweight or throwing up, there are some young lads who will make bad decisions.”

For the BHA, Chief Medical Adviser Dr Jerry Hill said: “The closure of saunas represents a significant step forward for jockey wellbeing and a permanent raising of the minimum weight, while protecting competitiveness by raising the maximum weight, is the correct response to that development.

“I am grateful for the input received from the industry’s participants, and in particular the clear message sent by jockeys regarding their support to see the use of saunas on racedays end.

“Our jockeys are athletes who should be primed to perform to the best of their ability, like any other. Shedding pounds by dehydrating in a sauna minutes before being given the leg-up onto a horse is not the best way to ensure that is the case.”

The BHA has concluded that the High Court has not identified any further action that must be taken as a result of the ruling that saw Freddy Tylicki successful in his case against Graham Gibbons following the injuries he sustained at Kempton in October 2016.

Tylicki was trampled on after his fall from Nellie Deen in a mile fillies’ maiden.

As a result of his injuries, he is now a permanent wheelchair user. In December Judge Karen Walden-Smith found in Tylicki’s favour, ruling that Gibbons had ridden with “a reckless disregard for Mr Tylicki’s safety”.

British racing’s regulatory body had vowed to study the detailed findings from the High Court case, and having done so, and following consultation with other industry stakeholders, set out its response in a statement that concluded there was no cause for amendments to the Rules.

Instead, the BHA highlighted changes that had already been made or were in motion following reforms since 2016.

These included a transition from a majority amateur panel quorum model to a majority professional panel quorum model of stewarding; mandatory competency-based training for

stewards; state-of-the-art technology that allows for more enhanced analysis of races; and updated guidance to stewards on enquiry procedure, and specifically regarding the adjournment of enquiries where material witnesses are unable to be present.

Work is already under way, the BHA added, following adoption of the new Rules of Racing in 2019, to review British racing’s sanctions framework and guidance. This work will address the full range of sanctions, including those for interference, and discussions with stakeholders have begun.

In response to a suggestion during the court case that there exists an informal code of conduct, whereby jockeys do not “get too involved or [say] too much… try to stay as neutral as possible” when giving evidence to stewards, the BHA underlined that it “is just one piece of the evidence stewards are required to carefully consider and weigh against all other evidential material”.

The statement added: “Experienced and trained stewards objectively undertake this task and make decisions based on the required standard at every fixture every day.”

On the subject of whether there

Freddy Tylicki: victorious

could be implications arising from the case to do with jockeys’ insurance, the BHA said they had met the Professional Jockeys’ Association to consider such matters.

Its statement said: “The BHA has committed to supporting the PJA in whatever way necessary in their discussions with their insurer, in particular by providing whatever material they may need to demonstrate the level of risk mitigation that is now in place in British racing. It is essential for all sectors of our sport that jockeys are provided with adequate cover to allow them to compete.”

It concluded: “The BHA would like to place on record once again its very best wishes for the future for Freddy Tylicki and his family.”

Fabrice Vermeulen: appealing his ban

lucrative spell at Cagnes-sur-Mer. The France Galop investigation was triggered after Vermeulen himself made a claim for unpaid training fees against owner Laetitia Louis.

Louis and another owner, Laurence Lavenu, were warned against future

GEORGE SELWYN

Six-month ban for Fabrice Vermeulen Trainer Fabrice Vermeulen has been banned for six months by France Galop after an investigation into claims he falsified ownership details of 12 horses.

Three months of the sentence have been suspended for five years.

He was reported to have appealed against the punishment, claiming he couldn’t fathom the ruling and that it had resulted from misunderstandings.

The Belgian-born, Chantilly-based trainer saddled Lily’s Candle to land the Prix Marcel Boussac in 2018, while more recently he has enjoyed success with Chachnak and Pretty Tiger.

Vermeulen has made a great start to 2022, with 20 winners from just 130 runners at the time of writing, when he led the trainers’ title on earnings after a

TATTERSALLS

BHA says no further action needed after High Court verdict

conduct, while Haras du Logis Saint Germain received a €1,500 fine.

Many of the administrative breaches Vermeulen has been found guilty of relate to an ownership entity called SAS Le Marais, a company registered to his long-time associate Jeremy Para.

Le Marais was subject to an investigation by the Service Central des Courses et Jeux – law enforcement with oversight of the racing and gambling sector – which came to a head in July 2020 and whose findings led France Galop to bar the company from ownership.

As well as being a key part of Vermeulen’s set-up, Para is a bloodstock agent. The France Galop case alleged the pair used third parties to hide Le Marais’s ownership of shares in a number of horses.

Para received a year’s racecourse ban, with six months suspended.

THE OWNER BREEDER

13

Changes

Racing’s news in a nutshell

People and business Christopher Farrell

Godolphin Flying Start graduate joins Tattersalls Ireland as Flat Sales Executive after three years with Magic Millions in Australia.

Mick Quinn

Former footballer-turned-trainer who sent out Angus Newz to win four Listed races relinquishes his licence after 25 years in the profession.

National Stud

Interim board takes control of the Newmarket outfit, with Tim Lane leaving and Joe Grimwade being appointed Head of Stud Operations.

Dai Burchell

Calls time on training career shortly before his 85th birthday. Good Impression is his final winner at Uttoxeter in late January.

Charlie Deutsch

Jockey rides first Grade 1 winner aboard Dfa Racing’s L’Homme Presse in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

Wesley Ward

Twelve golden Royal Ascot trophy boxes are stolen following a break-in at the trainer’s house in Kentucky.

Sir Mark Todd

Trainer receives an interim suspension from the BHA after a video of him hitting a horse with a tree branch emerges online.

Middleham Open Day

Event in Yorkshire will take place for the first time in three years on Good Friday, April 15 with all proceeds going to Racing Welfare.

TBA

Charity awarded £360,000 by the Racing Foundation for its work in education provision, equine welfare and environmental sustainability.

Randox Grand National

Galvin and Conflated top weights on 11st 10lb, with dual winner Tiger Roll set to miss this year’s renewal after being allotted 11st 4lb.

Stud & Stable Staff Awards

Paddy Trainor is named Employee of the Year at the 2022 Godolphinsponsored ceremony.

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THE OWNER BREEDER

People obituaries Dick Duchossois 100

Driving force behind Arlington Park and owner of top-class runners including 1991 Sussex Stakes winner Second Set.

Mick Ryan 80

Sent out more than 700 winners from his Newmarket base, with Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Katies his star performer.

Gordon Armstrong 84

Father of Newcastle Clerk of the Course James Armstrong worked for trainer Verly Bewicke, later serving as a racecourse steward.

Robert Chugg 79

Successful amateur rider who became a noted National Hunt breeder with wife Jackie from his base at Little Lodge Farm.

CLASSIC GR.1 WINNING SON OF GALILEO First yearlings 2022 Four-time Group winner including the Gr.1 Classic Irish St Leger at three and the Gr.3 Eyrefield Stakes at two Brother to the Gr.1 producing, National Hunt sire AIR CHIEF MARSHAL Outstanding first books of mares featured a Listed winning sister to WALK IN THE PARK, a sister to Gr.2 winner VINTAGE CLOUDS and a sister to BRIAN BORU and SEA MOON

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Changes

Racehorse and stallion

Movements and retirements

Le Havre

French Derby hero and top stallion, sire of Group 1 winners including Wonderful Tonight, Suedois and Avenir Certain, is retired from stud duties at 16.

Subjectivist

Dr Jim Walker’s Gold Cup winner in 2021, who hasn’t raced since his Royal Ascot triumph, is ruled out for another year due to injury.

Agrapart

Talented hurdler is retired aged 11 – he provided Lizzie Kelly with two Grade 2 victories in the 2017 Relkeel Hurdle and 2018 Cleeve Hurdle.

Snow Lantern

Daughter of Frankel who went one better than her dam Sky Lantern by winning the Falmouth Stakes is retired and booked to visit Dubawi.

Waiting Patiently

Winner of the 2018 Grade 1 Ascot Chase for owner Richard Collins and trainer Ruth Jefferson is retired aged 11.

Almighwar

Son of Dubawi out of Oaks and King George heroine Taghrooda has been retired to stand at Garryrichard Stud in County Wexford.

Sassofortino

Defi Du Seuil

Seven-time Grade 1 winner for owner JP McManus and trainer Philip Hobbs, including two Cheltenham Festival strikes, is retired aged nine.

Horse obituaries Midnight Shadow 9

Triple Grade 2 scorer over hurdles who won the Paddy Power Gold Cup for owner Mrs Aafke Clarke and trainer Sue Smith.

Master Tommytucker 11

High-class chaser for owner-breeder Tony Fear and trainer Paul Nicholls, his six wins including a Grade 2 at Kempton.

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THE OWNER BREEDER

Unraced three-year-old son of Dubawi from a fine Moyglare Stud family will start his stallion life at Gurteen Stud in County Offaly. His fee is €1,500.

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The Big Picture

18

THE OWNER BREEDER

Cheltenham

Another mint Imperial graces hallowed Cheltenham turf Imperial Racing’s black and white colours are synonymous with Cheltenham through Imperial Commander, whose six course victories included the Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase, and the owners and silks were to the fore again on Festival Trials Day thanks to Imperial Alcazar.

Pictured here running away with the novices’ handicap chase under Paddy Brennan, the eightyear-old has been one of many success stories for the yard of Fergal O’Brien and Graeme McPherson this season.

Photos Bill Selwyn

THE OWNER BREEDER

19

The Howard Wright Column

Syndicate-only races just one way to refresh racing

A

s the cradle of organised thoroughbred racing, Britain has provided many of the best ideas to later-arriving professional jurisdictions around the rest of the world. But that’s not to say those Brits at the forefront of responsibility for the modern sport should close their eyes and ears to overseas ideas.

The Classic system, handicapping, rules and race programming are fundamentals that owe their existence to British influence, and it is no coincidence that virtually every civilised racing nation has the equivalent of a Jockey Club, even down to the very name in many instances.

For all that Australia is split asunder by state racing authorities – and egos – its racing operators have adopted most of the British mores, most recently taking up evening racing under lights and staging programmes on Good Friday, as well as promoting fixed-odds betting as a superior model to their well-established pools. But two recent innovations directly traceable down under are worth considering for trialling in Britain.

Next January will bring a new race to Queensland’s

most important raceday, when the Magic Millions The Syndicate will be run over six furlongs for three-year-olds and upwards, with a prize fund of AUS$1,000,000, or just short of £800,000 at current rates. The detail is in the title, for each entry will have to be owned by a minimum of 20 individual owners or syndicate members from its debut.

Australian racing’s predilection for syndicate ownership has been held up as a beacon for the future in many jurisdictions, not least in Britain, where the Racehorse Syndicates Association has been formed to promote the idea in order to attract more people into ownership.

Once the news of the Magic Millions development filtered into the international psyche, the RSA was quick off the mark to suggest a similar concept could be adopted in Britain, but with the twist that it should involve a series of races with a final at either the Cheltenham Festival or Royal Ascot.

Oh dear – not another new race at either congested venue! Rather than providing needless encouragement to

Much has been made lately about efforts to provide easier entry to British horseracing for people of diverse backgrounds, as if the barriers have been greater than to any other pursuit, business or industry. It’s just not the case, so the next time someone suggests that breaking into this employment sector in Britain is the equivalent of battering down the door to a closed shop, please refer them to Tom Byrne, Paul Johnson, Fraser Garrity or Vivien Currie.

The days when a military background was an absolute essential for procuring a job of any kind are long gone, and over the last 25 years British racing has developed a well recognised career path, from stables to racecourses to administration. The four personalities mentioned, along with a raft of recently advertised jobs under various Jockey Club banners, prove the point.

Starting on the shop floor at the Racing Post, Byrne moved into the operations sector at GBI Racing and the Levy Board before landing the new post of Head of Racing and Betting at the BHA. There, he takes on an expanded role following Paul Johnson’s move into the hot seat at

20

THE OWNER BREEDER

HAMILTON PARK

Racing’s career ladder in fine working order

Vivien Currie: set for Ascot hotseat

the NTF – Johnson started as a Ladbrokes betting shop District Manager before a stint at the Racecourse Association and eight years at the BHA. Garrity has been involved with racetracks for over two decades of his working life. He started in central administration until his role as Head of Racecourses at the BHA was made redundant in 2015, then quickly slipped into the Manager’s seat at reopened Chelmsford City and has now been appointed to the new

position of Group Racing and Operations Manager at Arena Racing Company.

And so to Currie, the most recent entrant to racing but one who served a fascinating apprenticeship as chartered accountant with Ernst & Young and Chief Executive of Livingston FC before arriving at Hamilton Park racecourse as Chief Executive in 2008.

So well has she directed affairs at one of Britain’s farthest outposts that not only has she landed perhaps the most prestigious position in racecourse management as successor to Guy Henderson when he retires as Ascot Chief Executive in June, but her role at the Scottish track is being filled by two people.

It could be argued, and no doubt will be argued by promoters of specific ethnic and diversity involvement, that these four individuals have been cherry-picked to prove a theory, and that they have slotted into four high-profile jobs.

That’s true, to a point, but each has made their way up the ladder provided by racing.

Everybody has to start somewhere.

And that’s not usually at the top.

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OBJECTIVE: PREGNANCY

Syndicates are all the rage in Australia

attend two of the biggest festivals of the year, let’s take a slice of perspective to the idea, and suggest that, as in Queensland, one big event restricted to syndicate owners would best stimulate breeding and ownership, at least on a short-term basis.

Sales races rarely fail to attract less than full fields, and owners seem happy – or perhaps are oblivious to the reality – to stump up a major part of the prize-money. A race for syndicates, maybe rotating around a major group’s premier racecourses, could do the same, especially if it carried a purse approaching the Magic Millions enterprise.

“Let’s suggest that one big event restricted to syndicate owners would best stimulate breeding and ownership” The other recent Aussie initiative came from the Victoria Racing Club, which staged a Friday late-afternoon raceday at Flemington that comprised seven events over five furlongs, with a sub-plot of a ‘country versus city’ jockeys’ challenge, whose teams were quasi managed by Australian Football League stars to spread the publicity razzmatazz.

The central challenge concept grew out of the state’s division between country and metropolitan racing. No such official split occurs in Britain, but the Shergar Cup make-up demonstrates that jockeys’ teams can be constructed under almost any banner. The trick in translating the idea to Britain would be to invent an alternative worthy of substantial promotion.

Scandinavia has long held races over four furlongs, a dash to the line that adds an element of additional interest to the usual fare. British rules do not allow such mad-cap contests, but they can be changed.

How about races over two furlongs for lowly-rated horses, organised over a short period as a league or team event? They could be staged between the scheduled programme, thus circumventing the complaint from casual racegoers that a day’s racing consists of ten minutes’ action and lots of hanging about. Just an idea.

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THE OWNER BREEDER

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Pub_Elevage_88x251_Ang_th owner and breeder.indd 1Pub_Elevage_88x251_Ang_th owner and breeder.indd 8/12/21 12:27 1

The Big Interview Sam Thomas is enjoying life at Dai Walters’ Lisvane yard near Cardiff

Venetia Williams and Kevin O’Keefe aboard L’Homme Presse lead the string on the Aramstone gallops

22

THE OWNER BREEDER

Venetia Williams

Spring in

HER STEP

It’s turning into a season to remember for Venetia Williams, buoyed by her first Grade 1 winner in 20 years and a thriving partnership with stable jockey Charlie Deutsch. Could the campaign reach new heights at the Cheltenham Festival this month?

Words: James Thomas • Photos: Bill Selwyn

G

iven her yard’s recent run of form, Venetia Williams could be forgiven for shouting from the rooftops of her idyllic Aramstone stables. However, the tranquillity at her Herefordshire base seems unlikely to be interrupted any time soon, as not only has she mastered the art of training winners but the art of understatement too.

As she discusses the likes of Funambule Sivola, L’Homme Presse and Royale Pagaille, a series of measured responses is only momentarily broken at the suggestion her recent purple patch might reflect a change in her well-honed methods.

“Goodness gracious no!” she replies before slipping back into her self-effacing ways. “It’s nature; I’m not doing anything to make that happen, I’m just allowing that to happen. I try to train the horses by doing as little work with them as I think I can get away with and I’m not making any more of a concerted effort than I have in the last 20-odd years.”

While Williams is accomplished and assured enough to eschew any

semblance of a self- congratulatory outburst, her results of late speak of a trainer operating at the peak of her powers.

Since January 1 she has saddled L’Homme Presse to win the Dipper and the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chases; Royale Pagaille landed a second Peter Marsh Handicap from an official mark of 163; Pink Legend claimed the Listed Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase; Green Book scooped the Grade 3 Heroes Handicap Hurdle; and – take a deep breath – Funambule Sivola continued his upward trajectory with a decisive victory in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase.

The earlier stages of the season weren’t without high points either, as Cloudy Glen provided a poignant success for the late Trevor Hemmings in the Ladbrokes Trophy, and Commodore registered an impressive 15-length score in a Cheltenham Grade 3.

These results have contributed to the stable operating at a strike-rate of 25 per cent having passed the half century of winners for the season,

THE OWNER BREEDER

››

23

The Big Interview ›› while Williams’ horses have already

amassed over £1,000,000 in prize-money earnings in 2021-22.

“Obviously we’re very pleased though,” she continues. “We had a bit of a heads up because our stats were pretty good last season too and we’ve picked up where we left off. I’ve been training for long enough now to know how the swings and roundabouts go though, so I really do appreciate it. If we’ve had a good winner it still puts a spring in everybody’s step.”

Williams is into her 27th season with a trainer’s licence and has been operating at the upper echelons of her profession for the vast majority of those years. She sent out her first runner in 1995 and it was not long before the likes of Teeton Mill, winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup and the King George, and Lady Rebecca, a 400gns buy who won three Cleeve Hurdles on the bounce, put her firmly on the map.

With a career tally now well beyond 1,500 winners, a number that includes the Grand National hero Mon Mome, Williams is the most prolific female trainer in National Hunt history. Not that you will find her declaring she has smashed through the glass ceiling though, as she is adamant that racing is an equal opportunities environment. Instead, she suggests her gender was a help rather than a hindrance in her early days with a trainer’s licence.

“I think actually it’s the other way,” she says when the subject of gender bias arises. “I think as a female, certainly when I was in my early days, it wasn’t equal; I think we had an added advantage because there were less of us ladies, so one got more publicity.”

Williams still seems as hungry and single-minded in her pursuit of winners as any rookie out there, and this year’s exploits have certainly whetted the appetite for the four biggest days in the jump racing calendar.

“I’ve not won a Grade 1 at the Cheltenham Festival before,” she says.

“I’ve won handicaps there and come close with Aso twice being placed in the Ryanair and Mon Mome, who was third in the Gold Cup. But we’ve got one or two chances this year who might be better than we’ve had in days gone by.”

Step forward L’Homme Presse, who has looked something out of the ordinary when sauntering his way through an unbeaten novice chase campaign. His four victories, that have yielded an aggregate winning margin of 50 lengths, have been characterised by some laserguided jumping and a likeable attitude,

24

THE OWNER BREEDER

none more so than his bloodless success in the Scilly Isles on his latest outing.

The son of Diamond Boy is a singlefigure price for both the Turners and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, and although connections are yet to settle on his intended target, he will be a force to be reckoned with wherever he turns up.

“He’s in the two-and-a-half mile race and the three-miler,” says Williams. “Andy [Edwards, co-owner] has views on that but the plan is to keep options open until much nearer the time. I’m sure at some point he will step up to three miles, whether it’s now or later on in his career I don’t know. He’s always looked like he’d be a chaser as he’s a big, rangy horse, and as with every horse you just hope they’ll progress as far as they possibly can.”

While this season has seen L’Homme Presse emerge as a serious Cheltenham contender, the first name on Williams’ Festival team sheet will likely have been Royale Pagaille, who heads for a second crack at the Gold Cup on the back of a valiant runner-up effort behind Eldorado Allen in the Grade 2 Denman Chase at

Newbury in February.

Royale Pagaille is a rare Rich and Susannah Ricci-owned runner not trained

by Willie Mullins, and Williams explains that the 166-rated chaser could so easily have ended up carrying less familiar colours had others not sat on their hands at precisely the wrong moment.

“I’d met Rich Ricci a number of years

earlier and he’d said to me that if I could find a nice horse then he’d like to have one with me,” she says. “Prior to Royale Pagaille I’d offered him two others that were turned down, so I’d slightly lost my confidence in putting horses up to him.

I’d bought Royale Pagaille at Arqana the previous November and had offered him to everybody and anybody, but he’d

Venetia Williams

The peaceful Herefordshire countryside is the backdrop to morning exercise, while left, Williams will be hoping for soft ground at the Cheltenham Festival to aid the chances of Gold Cup contender Royale Pagaille

constantly been turned down.

“I didn’t get him in training for the first season but got him going in the second season as I thought he can’t sit out in the field for another year. When I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with the horse and he was only half fit, I offered him to Rich and to my surprise he said yes.”

The owner has been well rewarded as Royale Pagaille has won four races and Williams says it is not out of the question that he could progress further still, particularly if the rain arrives at Cheltenham. “He hasn’t necessarily been campaigned in a classic way that others might have with his rating but there’s only three horses rated above him in the country so obviously that brings a big smile to your face,” she says.

“You have to be very pleased with how he ran at Newbury. It was a fast race and he was beaten by the speed horse.

Cheltenham and taking on the Irish is going to be a whole different ball game but he’ll head there and do his best.”

Around 30 minutes after Royale Pagaille ran at Newbury, Funambule Sivola registered a two-length success over Sceau Royal in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase. That career-best effort entitles the diminutive son of Noroit to a crack at the Champion Chase, although his trainer says she will be guided by the handicapper as to whether they go down

the Grade 1 route or aim towards the Grand Annual instead.

“I was really pleased with him at Newbury as I’d been hopeful he’d do what he did,” she says. “You don’t often get a horse rated in the 150s winning a Champion Chase but, equally, carrying 11st 12lb in the Grand Annual isn’t particularly attractive either. But it’s not all about Cheltenham, he’s won a smashing race which we need to

“Setting a target or a goal can’t possibly help increase your success” appreciate in its own right. If they’re as small as he is, they need to be brave and intelligent and he’s both of those things.”

Other plans are still being finalised but Williams expects to run around a dozen horses at the Festival. The likes of Brave Seasca, Fanion D’Estruval and Green Book also head to Prestbury Park on an upward curve, and as such will warrant

serious respect whatever target they end up being pointed towards.

Although this year’s team may have increased the anticipation ahead of Cheltenham, Williams isn’t the type of trainer to get wrapped up in grand plans or far-fetched aims. “What’s the point?” she asks when the subject of setting seasonal targets comes up. Instead her ambitions are firmly rooted in the here and now. “You’re constantly busting a gut to do the best you can and setting a target or a goal can’t possibly help increase your success,” she says. “If you do that, you’re almost making the suggestion that prior to doing so you weren’t really stretching yourself.”

What can help increase your success, however, is being immersed in the details on which success is founded. Williams puts a particular emphasis on placing her horses to maximum advantage, and it speaks of her skill in this area that not only is she one of just six British trainers to reach a seven-figure sum of win and place money, but because she has done so with less than 200 runners – less than half of some of those above her in the rankings.

“I spend a lot of time in my office looking at entries and the form of the opposition,” she says. “I don’t particularly enjoy it because it’s so flipping timeconsuming. But it’s important if you want

THE OWNER BREEDER

25

››

The Big Interview

Venetia Williams

Williams and Charlie Deutsch enjoy Funambule Sivola’s win in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury

›› to have your horses where they have the

best chance of winning.”

Similarly, sourcing the raw materials can make or break a trainer and Williams has shown herself to be equally as adept at spotting talent at the sales as she is at training and placing the horses under her care. While the Irish point-to-point graduate has never been more in vogue, and consequently more expensive, Williams has continued to mine a rich seam of French talent at more sensible money.

“By and large I think there’s better value to be had in France so why change a winning formula?” she says. A trio of her current stars offer an illustration of not only the talent Williams has unearthed on her French forays but the value she has secured too. Royale Pagaille was picked up for €70,000 and has since earned over £173,000 in prizemoney; Funambule Sivola cost €50,000 and has now won £129,500; while Green Book, a mere €30,000 buy, has netted nearly £95,000 in ten starts for the yard.

“Of course, it’s satisfying sourcing these horses as well as training them, but once they’ve started running, good or bad, and as long as the person can afford them in the first place, then what they cost is soon long forgotten about,” she says.

As if buying, placing and training her string wasn’t enough, she also curates the yard’s social media output, although admits that telling the world about her every winner hasn’t come naturally.

“It started around five years ago,” she says. “I was talking to a friend and he gave me a right flea in my ear when I said I didn’t do social media. He told me I had

26

THE OWNER BREEDER

Deutsch delivering on big stage It is not just a team of progressive horses Venetia Williams has at her disposal, as she can also rely upon the services of some up-and-coming riders too. Claimers Lucy Turner, Ned Fox and Hugh Nugent have all shown distinct promise aboard Williamstrained runners, but the stable’s number one, Charlie Deutsch, has been nothing short of a revelation this season.

The 25-year-old landed a deserved Grade 1 breakthrough aboard L’Homme Presse and has regularly displayed an abundance of sharpness and maturity both in and out of the saddle. Williams stood firmly in Deutsch’s corner as he set about rebuilding his career after a well-documented prison sentence for dangerous driving, and has had her loyalty repaid by a rider who is looking more accomplished by the day.

She says: “I’ve been friends with Charlie’s parents for a very long time and have always regarded him as a talented rider. If we have success then he has success and vice versa. He’s in here most days and he’s a great guy and a great jockey and I couldn’t be

to and every time I have a winner I have to shout about it, because that’s what everybody does.

“When we were younger, we were all told nobody likes a show-off but the world’s a different place now. It doesn’t come naturally but it’s not very difficult to put a pretty picture up every now and again so I’m sort of getting used to it.”

more pleased with how it’s working out for both of us.”

Deutsch is the latest talent to emerge while under Williams’ tutelage, joining the likes of Sam Thomas, Aidan Coleman and the late Liam Treadwell in having benefited from the trainer’s support. However, she admits that nurturing the careers of young riders is not something she necessarily set out to do.

“It’s not that I particularly look to bring younger jockeys along but I’m quite fussy about how my jockeys ride,” she says. “That’s partly tactics, although obviously they can be discussed, but mainly how they ride into, over and away from obstacles.

When Ned Fox started riding out here I think he wondered what I was talking about!

“Aidan Coleman came to us when he’d only had around five rides and Sam Thomas came here six months after he’d finished school. Both were our stable jockey and both went on to other yards. It’s great having Charlie with us and hopefully he’ll be here for the long term.”

While there have been plenty of sacrifices along the way, it not only seems as though Williams remains consumed by the challenge of training winners, but that she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I just enjoy being in the winner’s enclosure and I’m quite happy to do whatever is necessary to get there,” she says. “That’s my reward.”

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Over 525 live offspring aged 5yo and under with over 100 from TBA Elite Mares.

Foals from numerous Black-Type Winners: FEATHARD LADY, COLIN’S SISTER, AMARETTO ROSE, PEPITE ROSE, GEMINI LUCY, ALASI, SENORITA RUMBALITA, LIFEBOAT MONA, INDIAN STREAM, MOLLY’S A DIVA, EASTER LEGEND etc.

Offspring sold for £130,000, €85,000, €78,000, €70,000, €68,000, £60,000 etc.

Stud Fee:

£3,000 (1st Oct terms)

Contact: PETER HOCKENHULL • Tel: (01939) 270235 • Mobile: 07740 257547 E-mail: info@shadeoakstud.co.uk • Website: www.shadeoakstud.co.uk

Michael Buckley

Tears and

TRIUMPHS He’s experienced his fair share of ups and downs – as a racehorse owner and in his business life – yet Michael Buckley’s passion for the sport remains undimmed and in Constitution Hill he may have found a genuine superstar Words: Edward Rosenthal

I

t’s near the end of our chat when Michael Buckley contributes perhaps his most succinct assessment of why he continues to invest in racehorses having ridden the ownership rollercoaster for close to 50 years.

“I’m always amused by people’s attitude to risk. Starting a new business is a risk but so is getting in the car in the morning,” Buckley says via Zoom.

“I suppose I’ve got an appetite for trying to make my life a little bit less predictable than it otherwise might be.

“I’ve had a quieter time with the National Hunt horses for the past three or four years, Brain Power apart. So, I thought, why not spin the wheel again?

“I decided to buy this horse at the sales last year and it’s possible I’ve got lucky. Well, I have got lucky – maybe I’ve got very lucky. The horse has to do it on a much bigger stage now – but he looks very promising.”

The horse in question is Constitution Hill, trained by long-time ally Nicky Henderson. The exciting five-year-old is the winner of both his starts for Buckley and already a bonafide Grade 1 performer following his facile victory in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January.

Picked up for £120,000 after a close second on his only point-to-point outing, the Blue Bresil gelding is now a leading fancy for the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the opening contest at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, where Buckley’s silks have previously been carried with distinction by the likes of Finian’s Rainbow and Spirit Son. While Finian’s Rainbow provided his owner with a top-level Festival

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THE OWNER BREEDER

success in the 2012 Queen Mother Champion Chase, following up in the Melling Chase at Aintree, it is Spirit Son that Buckley believes could have jumped right to the top of the tree granted a fair wind. Yet rather than acting as a springboard to better things, Cheltenham proved to be his penultimate appearance.

Buckley, speaking in February from Florida’s west coast, explains: “I’ve had a hell of a lot of jumps horses – and I’ve been lucky and had some very good ones. Like Finian’s Rainbow; he was very good. But there are a few horses that have that extra little bit of brilliance.

“I’ve had two horses before that I thought were exceptional. One was The Proclamation. The other was a horse bought in France, Spirit Son. “Nicky Henderson described Spirit Son as a ‘little Ferrari’. After his second in the [2011] Supreme Novices’ – he was up against Sprinter Sacre, Cue Card and Al Ferof – Spirit Son ran at Aintree and beat Cue Card by 13 lengths, with Rock On Ruby, the following year’s Champion Hurdle winner, eight lengths further back in third. A month later he was found lying in his box having picked up a virus and never ran again. He had a brilliance that was just starting. Who knows what he might have done?

“Our view of The Proclamation was based on what he could do at home. Nicky said he’d never seen a horse do what this horse could do.

Corky Browne, Nicky’s head lad, said he was the best horse he had seen since Killiney [trained by Fred Winter to win eight successive races over

fences before a fatal fall at Ascot].

The Proclamation won easily at Punchestown, had one run over fences [winning at Ascot] and then in his next race he was killed.”

First steps

If Buckley came to understand only too well that ecstasy and tragedy were part and parcel of the jump racing experience, his early days in the sport made it all look decidedly easy.

Having grown up on a farm in Sussex – “horses were in your life in those days whether you liked it or not” – and attended the odd point-to-point, Buckley, who left boarding school at 16 to enter the world of chartered accountancy, gained his first experience of horseracing at grassroots level.

He says: “When I worked in Sussex, family friends used to love National Hunt racing and often went to Plumpton, which raced on a Monday.

I used to get out of the office on a Monday afternoon and found that winning some money on a horse was really thrilling.

“Later on, some friends took me to Cheltenham, and I generated an interest in racing and thought it would be fun to own a horse.

“I went with a friend to visit a trainer called Peter Bailey, who was based in Sparsholt near Lambourn. He was doing a form of training, without realising it, which was a less sophisticated version of what Martin Pipe later did. He was remarkably successful for a small yard.

“Peter bought a really cheap horse for me called Game Moss, a scrubby-looking ex-Flat animal. His first race for me was

››

STEVE DAVIES

Michael Buckley (inset) has plenty to look forward to with his exciting five-year-old Constitution Hill, easy winner of the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January

THE OWNER BREEDER

29

Buckley and Nicky Henderson (right), pictured with Brain Power and Nico do Boinville, are one of NH racing’s most enduring ownertrainer partnerships

›› at Windsor in a novice hurdle, when he

was up against a horse called Pitpan. I remember them coming to the last with Terry Biddlecombe on big Pitpan and Jeff King on my tiny little horse.

“The worst thing that could possibly happen, in one sense, happened – my horse won. Had he been hammered, that probably would have been the end of it, and I wouldn’t have spent so much of my life trying to make money to buy horses!

“Anyway, that day at Windsor, it was absolutely thrilling. My pal who had come along with me burst into tears.

We went to the bar afterwards and stayed in there for a couple of hours.

That got me going, life went on, and I bought more horses.”

Following that first victory on February 20, 1974 – which was worth £238 to the winner – Buckley did not have to wait long for success on a far grander stage.

Zeta’s Son, ridden by Ian Watkinson, captured the Hennessy Gold Cup (now the Ladbrokes Trophy) at Newbury in 1976 and two years later, Tommy Stack

30

THE OWNER BREEDER

partnered Strombolus to victory in the Whitbread Gold Cup (now the Bet365 Gold Cup) at Sandown.

Indeed, such was his apparent Midas touch that on the same day that Zeta’s Son struck in Berkshire, 4,000 miles away in South Carolina, Grand Canyon, whom Buckley co-owned with Pat Samuel, won the Colonial Cup, North America’s most valuable steeplechase.

“I thought it was an easy game,” Buckley relates. “You found a nice horse in Ireland and if it was any good it would win. Peter kept turning out these winners for me and I couldn’t understand how everyone found the whole thing so difficult. It took a few years for me to realise there was another factor in jump racing, which is injuries.

“I was visiting America for the first time when I travelled to watch Grand Canyon in the Colonial Cup. We picked up $60,000 in prize-money. The organisers paid for everyone to get there except the owners, so I was flat broke! I had to ask the committee for an advance on the winnings because I

wanted to visit Las Vegas with Pat.” Buckley continues: “Zeta’s Son then won the Anthony Mildmay Chase at Sandown, beating a mare called Eyecatcher. That April he ran in the Grand National and Ron Barry, who used to ride for me, had said to his wife – unbeknown to me – that he would win the [1977] National on him and then announce his immediate retirement.

“Unfortunately, Ron got injured and Mouse Morris rode the horse.

Eyecatcher finished third to Red Rum [winning his third Grand National] and sadly my horse put his foot in a hole in the course and broke his leg. I found out that jump racing can carry a lot of tragedy as well.”

Kindred spirits

Celebrating the good days, or commiserating after the bad ones, is the racehorse owner’s lot and in Nicky Henderson, Buckley has found a kindred spirit with whom to share his racing journey.

Their enduring partnership, now in its fifth decade, has stood the test of

BILL SELWYN

Michael Buckley

time while others have fallen by the wayside.

“I first met Nicky when he was a young trainer,” Buckley says. “What’s kept us together? Firstly, he’s just a really nice person, who is patient with his horses and patient with his owners.

“We’re very different people. He lives for his horses and that’s his life. I’ve got lots of things that interest me away from horses. But I like Nicky. He’s a very gifted trainer and he’s a good guy.

“If you win a big race, you’ll have a great day whoever trains your horse.

But it’s about getting through the days in between and the rough days – he’s a sympathetic and caring human being.

“When I first bought a horse, I thought it would be a bit of fun. Then I found out after a while that I was really fond of the horses as creatures. We have that in common. Nicky regards them as you would people.”

He continues: “It’s true to say I haven’t jumped from trainer to trainer.

When Tom Symonds set up on his own, I sent him a horse, but I don’t have any desire to have a horse with anybody else in England. I’ve had jumpers with Jessie Harrington but she’s a dear friend and in a different country.

“I don’t regard it as patronage. I enjoy having jumps horses when I can, and I know they’ll get the best care with him.

“That’s why I still listen to Elvis Presley and Leonard Cohen. There may be a hot new band in town, but I like what they do so I don’t go for the latest fad.”

Buckley has just the two jumpers in training at Henderson’s Seven Barrows stable although a decade ago he had 17 individual runners in one season.

Despite the considerable increase in numbers, it wasn’t a particularly fruitful period.

“People talk about it being a numbers game,” says Buckley, who sold a business in 2009 to help fund his racing expansion. “I had the most jump horses I’d ever had, yet it didn’t lead to a marked increase in success. I had Finian’s Rainbow and Spirit Son but most of them weren’t very good, truth be told.

“Covid hasn’t been the most inspiring environment to think of buying more horses. I also had Brain Power, but he suffered an overreach and was retired. He’s now back with Warren Ewing and recently won a point-to-point in Ireland. I’m thrilled he’s having an active life.”

Buckley has also made his mark on the Flat, notably with Toast Of New

From Ford to Foxy Bingo via the Falklands Michael Buckley has enjoyed a varied business career, which he himself describes as “up and down”.

Qualifying as an accountant, he moved from Sussex to London to join a big accountancy firm, only to find he was spending little time in the capital and instead travelling around the country for audit work.

He recalls: “You would sit for weeks on end in some large outfit doing the audit. It was insufferably boring. But I’d already realised that straightforward accountancy wasn’t for me.

“I went to see the personnel manager to complain that I was never in London. I was then told to join an audit group for the Ford company in Dagenham. That would have meant that for 48 weeks of the year I would be heading out to Dagenham. I told him this life wasn’t for me and left the next day.

“I’m interested in a lot of stuff – sports, business, theatre, movies.

My temperament is not suited to a routine that doesn’t have a bit of variety.”

His next move was pivotal in shaping the rest of his working life.

After making some calls, Buckley ended up working for Oliver Jessel, the pipe-smoking City dealmaker once described as “a master of the financial universe”, though he later suffered severe losses in the financial crash of 1974.

Buckley explains: “He had built up a significant shareholding in a business in the West Indies called Demerara, and he wanted someone to go and look at the firm surreptitiously.

I was the only unmarried employee so was sent off to Guyana in South America and to Trinidad.

“I met the director of the company at a party in Georgetown, Guyana and he got drunk and told me all sorts of things. I came back with lots of information and photos, so Oliver gave me a rise. Then he made a takeover bid for the company the following Christmas. I was left out there to run the company, aged 24. It was a rough ride, but I learnt a lot.

“After a couple of years with him I went off, got some backing and bought control of a public company.

In the 70s there were a lot of people

“xx xxx xx xx xxx”

››

doing that sort of thing and plenty of poorly run businesses to buy. I didn’t have any formal business education. I learnt it all as I went along.”

Later investments included purchasing the Falkland Islands Company, which owned around 350,000 sheep. When the price of wool per kilo quadrupled in nine months, deals were done to sell the wool in advance – “we just had to keep the sheep alive” – and the money spent on buying the company was swiftly recouped with interest.

There was also a move into television; Buckley was involved in SelecTV, which made programmes including Birds Of A Feather and Lovejoy, later becoming a founder director of Meridian, while a brief flirtation with Broadway was exciting but less financially rewarding – “I invested in a show, and it was popular, but I didn’t get my money back”.

Buckley was quick to realise the potential in the embryonic online gaming sector in the 1990s, establishing Cashcade in 2000 after meeting two graduates who excelled in internet marketing.

Helped by his friend Victor Chandler, who became a client, Cashcade launched Foxy Bingo, aimed primarily at the female market.

“We spent a fortune on advertising,” Buckley explains. “But it was a punt that worked, and it became a huge thing just as the British population was latching on to the online world.

“By 2009 the company was making £12 million a year and the shareholders wanted to cash in, so we sold up to Party Gaming.”

Chairman of Gaming Realms PLC, listed on the AIM market in London, Buckley is still looking to expand his business interests in the online sector, building and licensing games, including Slingo, that are carried by the likes of William Hill, Ladbrokes and Coral in the UK, and DraftKings and Flutter in the US. Buckley adds: “We also supply games to operators in Spain, Holland and Romania. Hopefully we can do more business with European countries and in the United States.”

One thing’s for certain – you wouldn’t bet against him making it happen.

THE OWNER BREEDER

31

Michael Buckley the 2014 UAE Derby and later beaten a whisker in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, failing by a nose to reel in Bayern under Jamie Spencer. A stewards’ enquiry only added to the drama, but the places remained unaltered.

“He was beautifully trained and beautifully ridden,” the owner states.

“To come closer than all the big owners on dirt was a real achievement. I was just sad not to see his name on the winners’ board at Santa Anita.

“With the prices people are paying for jumpers now, Flat racing is much more economically viable. I hope I’ll have another really good Flat horse.”

Yet that’s for another day. Now it’s all about the home of jump racing and whether Constitution Hill can confirm his brilliance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, when the opposition will include his supremely talented stable companion Jonbon, owned by Buckley’s good friend JP McManus.

“Nicky keeps churning out these good horses, nurturing and bringing on the likes of Sprinter Sacre, Altior and

M

Buckley (right) and Bill Shand Kydd receive the Whitbread Gold Cup from the Queen Mother after Brown Windsor’s triumph in 1989

Shishkin,” Buckley says. “Somebody’s going to be lucky and have another one of those and who knows, maybe it will be me.

“At the moment the horse could have been flattered or he might be

exceptional. The one advantage he has is his temperament. He doesn’t get overexcited or too fussed about things.

I hope he gets there in good shape and has luck in the race. And I hope he wins.”

TECHNICIAN

Haras de M O N TA I G U

© Agence G / Scoopdyga

Haras +33 (0)2 33 35 97 02 • Sybille Gibson +33 (0)6 48 31 6 7 53 • harasrm@orange.fr • www.harasd emontaigu.com • Fearg hal Hogan • Manton Stallions • +353 (85) 738 5491 • fhogan@mantonpark.com

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THE OWNER BREEDER

GEORGE SELWYN

›› York, trained by Jamie Osborne to win

ai164253134925_Coolagown_Owner Breeder Feb 2022 copy.pdf

1

18/01/2022

18:42

GROUP 1 WINNER BY CHAMPS ELYSEES 120+ MARES IN FOAL IN 1ST SEASON, 25% OF WHICH ARE GRADED WINNERS/ PRODUCERS/ SIBLINGS C

STANDING ALONGSIDE

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

MALINAS

SHANTARAM

ZAMBEZI SUN

Proven BT sire Promising start with 1st crops, incl of 5-time Listed winner Zambella, debut bumper dual Listed winner & P2P winners Spirit Sun, etc Eight black-type HIT with Gordon performers in First Irish crop Elliott, Monbeg, 2020/21 season De Bromhead, etc of 4YO’s in 2022

Proven sire of Grade 1 winner Master McShee

CONTACT DAVID STACK +353 (0)86 2314 066

E: INFO@COOLAGOWN.IE W: WWW.COOLAGOWN.IE

National Hunt sires

Spoilt for

CHOICE

With a host of proven horses alongside several exciting new names, jumps breeders are not short of options when it comes to selecting stallions Words: Nancy Sexton

C

ome the end of this month’s Cheltenham Festival and there will be talking points aplenty among the jumps community, with the week’s major races likely having either paid further tributes to proven sires or highlighted the emergence of various younger names.

At the time of writing, nine stallions had broken through the £1 million barrier by prize-money for 2021-22 led by Coolmore’s Yeats, who is in the midst of one of his best seasons yet.

However, in a reflection of just what a long game jumps breeding can be, only nine of the current top 20 remain in service. This will always be an issue for this side of the industry. However, there are a plethora of younger sires coming through, many of them Group 1 performers, and

the appetite by breeders to support such horses remains strong.

The British scene

The sires’ table does not paint the British jumps scene in a particularly fine light given that only four active British-based sires, Nathaniel (who operates in a Flat capacity), Ask, Schiaparelli and Passing Glance, sit within the top 50.

However, such a snapshot fails to take into account the ambition behind several British-based farms, who between them have managed to secure a number of fresh names.

One such horse is the proven Dink (price on application), sire of top two-mile chaser Nube Negra who joined Alne Park Stud in 2021. By Poliglote, Spanish 2,000 Guineas winner Dink was formerly owned

GEORGE SELWYN

Dashel Drasher: popular performer is a son of Passing Glance, a successful sire under both codes

34

THE OWNER BREEDER

by Spanish showjumper Luis Alvarez Cervera and based in France. Despite covering small numbers at low fees, he has defied the odds by throwing Nube Negra, who claimed the scalp of Altior in last season’s Desert Orchid Chase for Dan Skelton; by the time that horse had run second in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Dink was ensconced at the Skeltons’ Alne Park Stud. Grace Skelton takes up the story.

“It goes without saying that we were well acquainted with Nube Negra and we also have other progeny of Dink’s in the yard which are turning into really nice young horses,” she says. “He’s a lovely looking stallion, 16.1 hands with plenty of bone and a pure-breeding bay. He and his young stock are a pleasure to have around – they all seem to inherit his temperament, which is great as there’ll be plenty of them about at the stud this spring.

“Apart from Nube’s success, Dink has a terrific pedigree in his own right. He is the only son of Poliglote at stud and, being out of a Woodman mare, he brings plenty of speed to a market in which most of the mares are stamina-bred.”

She adds: “We really had to hit the ground running with him last season. He arrived at the end of January so we didn’t really have a chance to show him to the ‘market’.

“I was delighted by the way he was received, he was well supported with 51 mares and this season is looking to be even better now that people know he’s here.

“He’s eligible for the TBA’s Elite Mares Incentive Scheme, which is a fantastic asset to the industry, and he has eight of those booked in this season as well as some other really nice black-type mares.”

CARL EVANS

Dink, a new recruit to Alne Park Stud last year, pictured with Grace Skelton and Nick Pearce

Chapel ambition

Ambition also sits behind the roster at Chapel Stud, home to the durable Group 2 winner Bangkok (£3,000), a well-related son of Australia, and Group 2 winner Walzertakt (£2,500), who is off the mark with his first runners in France. Much of Walzertakt’s appeal lies in the fact he is a son of Montjeu and half-brother to German Derby winner Wiener Walzer, the sire of Grade 1-winning hurdler Adagio.

They form part of a fresh roster at Chapel Stud that also includes Group 1 winners Indian Haven (£1,500) and Planteur (£4,000). The latter, of course, is the sire of popular stayer Trueshan and was well supported in his first season in Britain last year.

Shade Oak Stud also welcomes a new face in St Leger hero Logician (£4,000).

Beautifully bred as a Frankel member of

Juddmonte’s Monroe family, his place at Shade Oak has to be regarded as something of a coup for British breeders.

If the early stud career of fellow Shade Oak stallion Telescope (£3,000) is anything to go by, then Logician will be well supported in his new role. Likewise a winner of the Great Voltigeur Stakes, Telescope has covered over 150 elite mares in five seasons; his first crop are five-year-olds and include a handful of winners. As for Logician, he already has 54 elite mares booked in at the time of writing.

The combination of pedigree, soundness and talent also sits behind Shade Oak’s Dartmouth, a four-time Pattern scorer who defeated Highland Reel in the Hardwicke Stakes. By Dubawi and from a fine Wildenstein family, his first crop are three-year-olds and it would be

no surprise to see him look good value at £2,500 in several years’ time.

Those looking for Dubawi blood in Britain also have the option of Overbury Stud’s Frontiersman. A fee of £1,000 grants breeders access to a Group 1placed son of champion Ouija Board, making him a half-brother to Australia.

Breeders obviously liked what they saw from his first foals given that he covered 103 mares in 2020, up from 69 in 2019, and he was again busy in 2021 as the recipient of around 80, among them the dam of Thyme Hill.

Similarly, Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs (£3,000) unsurprisingly remains popular. His first crop, now three, have sold for up to £50,000 at the jumps sales, while there is also a potentially useful Flat performer to look forward to in The Gadget Man, who was beaten only a neck

THE OWNER BREEDER

››

35

National Hunt sires Way To Paris: Group 1-winning son of Champs Elysees stands at Coolagown Stud

››in a Newmarket maiden for Ralph Beckett.

Overbury stalwart Schiaparelli (£2,000) also continues to serve breeders well, notably as the sire of current Grade 2-winning hurdlers Ronald Pump and Indefatigable. He offers access into the popular Monsun sire line, as do several of the roster at Yorton Farm Stud.

GEORGE SELWYN

Yorton gems

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THE OWNER BREEDER

The 19-year-old Gentlewave (£3,500) is well proven as the sire of Poker Party, Easysland and Gentlemansgame among others, while the younger Masterstroke (£3,000) is worthy of close attention as a relation to Galileo and Sea The Stars who was placed in an Arc. He has made a bright start from his early French-bred runners, notably as the sire of Group 2 winner Miss Extra on the Flat and Grade 3 Auteuil scorer Floridee over jumps. Another representative, Fontainebleau winner Invictus Smart, realised £200,000 at last year’s Goffs UK December Yorton P2P Sale.

Yorton also bolstered its roster last year with the addition of Group 2 winner Arrigo (£2,000), a Shirocco half-brother to the late German champion sire Adlerflug from the same Anatevka line as Masterstroke.

His first crop are five-year-olds.

Of course, German bloodlines are renowned for their durability and in Scalo (£2,000) Yorton offers another such horse and one who is already proven under both codes, notably as the sire of German Derby hero Laccario.

The Yorton roster is rounded out by Coronation Cup winner Pether’s Moon (£2,000), whose early representatives include the stakes-placed Anneloralas, and Linda’s Lad (£2,500), a Group 1winning son of Sadler’s Wells whose progeny include Grade 1 jumpers Cash Back and Draconien.

Other sons of Sadler’s Wells at stud in Britain include dual Group 1 winner Ask (Willow Wood Farm: £2,000), the sire of eight black-type jumpers.

In addition to Telescope and Bangkok, the Sadler’s Wells sire line is also on show via Galileo through Irish St Leger winners Flag Of Honour (The National Stud: £2,500), a high-class two-year-old whose first crop of yearlings include relations to Walk In The Park and Vintage Clouds, and Sans Frontieres (Vauterhill Stud: poa), sire of the high-class hurdler Jason The Militant.

Galileo’s son Teofilo is the sire of Listed scorer Mildenberger (Groomsbridge Stud: £1,500) and Diplomat (LM Stallions: £1,500), a Group 2 winner on the Flat and

››

KHALIFA SAT Bay 2017, 16.3 (1.69m) FREE EAGLE – THERMOPYLAE (TENBY)

GR.1 DERBY-PLACED STAKES WINNER

Won 2 races at 2 and 3 years, 10 – 11f, and was placed once, from 5 starts: Won

LR Cocked Hat Stakes, 11f, Goodwood.

Won

Maiden, 10f, Goodwood, at 2.

2nd

Gr.1 Derby Stakes, 12f, Epsom, beating KAMEKO (Gr.1 2,000 Guineas), MOGUL (Gr.1 GP de Paris), PYLEDRIVER (Gr.1 Coronation Cup), and Group winners AMHRAN NA BHFIANN, RUSSIAN EMPEROR, MAX VEGA, etc.

WON ON SOFT AND GOOD GROUND King’s Theatre, Fame And Glory and Walk In The Park all finished second in the Derby.

FIRST SEASON 2022

“Khalifa Sat was a very talented racehorse with a great attitude and a high cruising speed. He was a pleasure to have in the yard, as he relished his work and showed real toughness in his races. He could have matured into anything in time, but he has the looks, temperament, and ability to excel at stud.”

Andrew Balding, trainer “Khalifa Sat was a cracking big well-balanced horse with serious ability and he proved this in his performance in the Cocked Hat Stakes, where he had to really battle, showing his class and determination that will stand to him in this stallion career.”

Tom Marquand, jockey

Standing at LACKEN STUD, Bunclody, Co. Wexford, Y21 NR59 Enquiries to Paul Rothwell: 086-1920994 or 053-9367075 email: lackenstud@yahoo.com

DINK Fee 2022: £3,000

Only breeding son of Poliglote One of 4 active stallions in UK to have sired G1 or G2 winner over jumps in 2020/21.

10 time winner including Spanish 2000 Guineas.

Sire of Multiple graded winner Nube Negra.

Alne Park Stud, Park Lane, Great Alne, Warwickshire B49 6HS 07464 633 938 info@alneparkstud.com www.alneparkstud.com Follow us @alneparkstud

THE OWNER BREEDER

37

KNOCKHOUSE STUD Sires for 2022 TIRWANAKO, WORKFORCE, LIBERTARIAN, KAP ROCK and BOSCACCIO All SIRES of recent winners – ADRIMEL, FELTON BELLEVUE, FREETHINKER, AURKA AA, HARDY FELLA, MAN O WORK, STORM DENIS, EN COEUR and WATCH HOUSE CROSS.

Equine Range Nature and technology - hand in hand

Recent 4yo winner WATCH HOUSE CROSS winning Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle.

KNOCKHOUSE STUD, Kilmacow, Via Waterford, Co. Kilkenny, X91 DK61 Enquiries to Sean or Janet Kinsella or Alan Grace Email: info@knockhousestud.com • Mobile: Sean – 00353 (0) 85 7852067 Mobile: Alan Grace – 00353 (0) 85 8136735

VIRTUAL

(GB)

By PIVOTAL – VIRTUOUS (EXIT TO NOWHERE) 16.3hh with 9” bone

Virtual has returned to the UK and now standing in Dorset giving breeders the opportunity to breed to a proven sire.

Bred by Cheveley Park Stud.

Tough Consistent winning Miler.

Group 1 winner of Lockinge Stakes; also Listed Race Winner.

Trained by John Gosden, running 14 times, 5 wins and 2 seconds; 4 thirds; ¾ brother to ICEMAN. Virtual had 30% winners to runners on the Flat incl. RAZOR QUEST earning £305,053, JUNOESQUE winning 9 races to date to name but a few.

Virtual’s winners are now coming through on the National Hunt scene including the multi winners HEWICK (Ire), VIRNON, WOR VERGE and RED OCHRE. Stud Fee: £750 concessions available NFFR Contact: Ann Bassett, ETHERIDGE FARM & STUD, Dark Knoll Lane, Okeford Fitzpaine, Blandford, DT11 0RP 01258 860037 or 07940 151961

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THE OWNER BREEDER

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National Hunt sires ›› winner over jumps at Auteuil. LM Stallions

Planteur: well supported in his first season at Chapel Stud

BILL SELWYN

also offers the tough Group 3 winner Master Carpenter (£1,000).

There is also affordable access to Galileo via Forever Now (£1,000), a Listed winner with a fine pedigree who stands alongside seven-time winner Marmelo (£2,000) at Norton Grove Stud. The latter was an excellent stayer whose lengthy career included wins in two renewals of the Prix Kergorlay. By Duke Of Marmalade, he is a welcome addition to Britain following two seasons in France.

Duke Of Marmalade is also sire of Nutan (poa), the 2015 Germany Derby hero who transfers from Germany to stand alongside Sans Frontieres and Group 2 winner Top Trip (poa) at Vauterhill Stud.

Also new on these shores is champion Leading Light (£2,500), the St Leger and Ascot Gold Cup hero who switches to Dunraven Stud in Wales. An exceptional stayer, he is bred for the job as a son of Montjeu; indeed, recent weeks have seen him represented by the Grade 1-placed novice hurdler Three Stripe Life and Listed bumper winner Top Dog. Batsford Stud would appear to have plenty to look forward to with its St Leger winner Harbour Law (£2,000), whose first crop are two-year-olds. As it is, the stud boasts a popular proven option in Passing Glance (£3,000), the sire of Group 1 winner Side Glance on the Flat and the popular Grade 1 winner Dashel Drasher over jumps; very few sires possess that kind of versatility and it’s no surprise to see that he covered close to 90 mares in 2021. Haafhd (£2,000), whose jumpers include Triumph Hurdle winner Countrywide Flame, completes the roster.

The record of Hundred Acre Farm’s Falco (poa) is also underpinned by top-flight performers under both codes, notably Group 1 winner Odeliz on the Flat and Triumph Hurdle winner Peace And Co over jumps. This season’s Tingle Creek Chase runner-up Hitman is also among the current representatives for this Classic-winning miler, whose first Britishbred crop are two this year.

Falco shares his sire, Pivotal, with another top miler in Virtual (poa). The Lockinge Stakes winner, who stands at Etheridge Farm in Dorset, has sired winners under both codes.

Millbry House Stud welcomes wellbred Group 3 winner Fountain Of Youth (£2,000), while Wood Cottage Stud is home to Kayf Tara’s Listed-winning relation Media Hype (£900). Group 3 winner Mahsoob (poa), a well-related son of Dansili, stands at Meiklehaugh Stud.

Versatility is a major theme behind the

admirable Frammassone (Peel Hall Stud: £2,000), a winner on the Flat who went on to win three times in Grade 1 company over jumps and boasts a winners to runners strike-rate of around 50%.

Yorgunnabelucky (Mickley Stud: £2,000) is another making a fine impression, with his early runners led by Listed bumper scorerer Timeforatune and Gerry Feilden Hurdle winner Onemorefortheroad.

Irish aces

A glance at the leading jumps sires’ list, however, reveals just how much power still lies in the hands of Irish stallion masters.

Coolmore’s four-time Gold Cup hero Yeats (Castle Hyde Stud: €5,000) heads the jumps sires’ table with the earners of almost £1.8 million. He sired four Cheltenham Festival winners last year including Flooring Porter (Stayers’ Hurdle) and Chantry House (Marsh Novices’ Chase), and with those horses alongside recent Irish Gold Cup winner Conflated among his armoury he looks poised to play a major role at this year’s meeting.

Not far behind the late Fame And Glory in third is fellow Coolmore stallion Getaway (Grange Stud: €9,000), best known as the sire of Grade 1 winners Sporting John and Verdana Blue. The 24-year-old Milan (Grange Stud: €8,000) is another Coolmore inmate within the top ten alongside Mahler (Beeches Stud: €5,000). All are excellent sires in their own right but none are in the first flush of youth.

Similar comments apply to 23-yearold Westerner (Castle Hyde Stud: €5,000) and 20-year-old Walk In The Park (Grange Stud: private), for whom there has been more than one brilliant representative – think Douvan, Min and currently Jonbon. Hugely popular with breeders as a result, this son of Montjeu remains akin to catnip in the sales ring,

where his progeny have sold for up to £300,000 in the past year.

Coolmore’s Galileo tribe

Coolmore invariably has a battalion of young names coming through, however, and understandably it has banked heavily on the Galileo sire line. Headed by the proven Grade 1 sires Mahler and Soldier Of Fortune (Beeches Stud: €8,000), whose French-bred crops are highlighted

by Grade 1 winners Early Doors and Mega Fortune, it stands seven jumps-orientated sons ranging from champion stayer Order Of St George (Castle Hyde Stud: €6,500), whose first foals have caught the imagination in the sales ring, to Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger winner Kew Gardens (Castle Hyde Stud: €5,000), who covered 188 mares in his first season last year.

Another St Leger hero, Capri (Grange Stud: €4,000), who also landed the Irish Derby, sits on the roster, as does Highland Reel’s Group 2-winning brother Idaho (Beeches Stud: €3,500).

Breeders have followed that train of confidence, between them sending almost 1,100 mares to such horses in 2021.

And now they have another talented son to choose from in the Grand Prix de Paris winner Mogul (Beeches Stud: €4,000), a new addition for 2022.

Galileo blood can also be accessed in Ireland outside of the Coolmore fold through the Bahrain Trophy winners Feel Like Dancing (Whytemount Stud: €2,000) and Shantaram (Coolagown Stud: €1,000); both are well-bred and relatively young horses who have been the subject of positive reports and are off the mark with their early runners.

Similar comments apply to Finsceal Fior (Green Hills Stud: €1,000), a son of Classic winner Finsceal Beo and sire of the Grade 2-placed hurdler Dewcup, El Salvador (Killack Stud: poa), for whom

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promising hurdler San Salvador heads an early handful of runners, and Group 3 winner Quest For Peace (Knockmullen House Stud: poa). Classy stayer Mizzou (Old Road Stud: poa) has his first fouryear-olds this year.

Of the others from this sire line, Frankel’s Group 1-winning son Mirage Dancer retires to Castlefield Stud at a fee of €3,500. He possesses an enticing family to back up his talent as a relation to Dansili and the much-missed dualpurpose influence Champs Elysees.

It helps that this is also the same family as Jet Away (Arctic Tack Stud: poa), one of the hottest young stallions in Ireland by virtue of a fast start highlighted by Grade 2 bumper winner Brandy Love.

Meanwhile, St Leger winner Galileo Chrome (€4,000) remains the only son of Australia at stud in Ireland. He covered a three-figure book in his first season last year at Starfield Stud, which is also home to Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner My Dream Boat (poa).

As for New Approach, he is the sire of Knockhouse Stud’s promising young horse Libertarian (poa). An imposing individual who ran second in the Derby, his first crop includes the highly-tried pair Holymacapony and Watch House Cross.

Another Derby runner-up, Khalifa Sat, represents a vein of High Chaparral via Free Eagle and as such should be popular in his first season at Lacken Stud. Also of interest is the Teofilo horse Austrian School (Clongiffen Stud: €1,500), a multiple-winning half-brother to Tiger Roll.

Authorized impact

Mention of Tiger Roll brings us on to the impact left behind by his sire Authorized.

Currently represented by the likes of Goshen and Mister Coffey, Authorized now plies his trade in Turkey, something which makes the addition of his Irish Derby-winning son Santiago (€4,500), a relation to Galileo and Sea The Stars, to Castle Hyde Stud all the more welcome.

It will also be interesting to see how Pour Moi’s Derby-winning son Wings Of Eagles (Beeches Stud: €4,000) fares. He has covered books of up to 212 mares since his return from France and has made a bright start on the Flat as the sire of Listed winner Blue Wings out of his first crop of two-year-olds.

The Montjeu influence can also be tapped into via Hunting Horn (Castlefield Stud: €2,000), a tough Group 2-winning Camelot relation to High Chaparral, as well as son Ol’ Man River (Arctic Tack Stud: poa), another out of Classic winner Finsceal Beo – in his case a €2.85 million yearling – who struck in the Beresford

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THE OWNER BREEDER

Pether’s Moon: first crop includes the stakes-performing jumper Anneloralas

Stakes as a two-year-old. His first crop are four-year-olds.

Meanwhile, the Montjeu legacy is being showcased to great effect by Jukebox Jury (Burgage Stud: private), a proven Group 1 sire under both codes. The Group 1-winning son of Montjeu joined Burgage from Germany in 2018. He was quick to reward that decision as the sire of Group 1 winner Princess Zoe on the Flat and Triumph Hurdle winner Farclas.

A snapshot of his potential can be gleaned by the fact that while Farclas was a member of his first crop, this season’s Grade 1-placed novice chaser War Lord hails from his second, the Grade 1-placed Nordano out of his third and the talented juvenile hurdler Il Etait Temps out of his fourth. His first Irish crop are three-yearolds.

“We had Shantou and Bob Back, both good enough to sire Group 1 horses on the Flat, and this fellow is doing the same,” says Victor Connolly of Burgage Stud. “He had acceleration and when you put that class into jumping mares, the results can be very good. He was covering around 40-60 mares in Germany per year and, off that, has eight Group 1 horses.

He’s also got a pretty high percentage of winners to runners.”

Burgage’s roster has been bolstered this season by the addition of Group 1 winner Fascinating Rock (poa), a stakes sire on the Flat, while it has also reason to be positive over the prospects of Sea Moon (poa). By Beat Hollow, sire of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo, Sea Moon won the Great Voltigeur and Hardwicke Stakes before striking at Group 2 level in Australia.

“He’s a big, well-balanced horse out of an Alleged mare,” says Connolly. “He was the third highest-rated horse on Racing Post ratings to retire in 2016 – he showed

great acceleration in the Voltigeur, when he beat Al Kazeem by eight lengths.

“His stock averaged €44,250 at last year’s Goffs Land Rover Sale and there has been encouraging reports over his young stock, and that has translated into winners [a handful of first-crop runners includes the Listed-placed bumper mare Hi Stranger].”

Lest we forget that, in addition to Yeats, there remain several various sons of Sadler’s Wells himself available, among them the older proven Grade 1 sires Sholokhov (Glenview Stud: poa), Doyen (Sunnyhill Stud: poa), Chacun Pour Soi’s sire Policy Maker (Blackrath Stud: poa) and Saddex (Blackrath Stud: €2,000).

Woodfield Farm Stud also hosts one of his younger sons in Bullet Train (poa), Frankel’s stakes-winning half-brother.

Repatriated from Kentucky in 2018, he has been represented on the Flat by Group 1 performer Chapada. While his first Irish crop are three-year-olds, his stud-mate Curtain Time (poa), also by Sadler’s Wells, is proven; current runners include Irish Grand National winner Freewheelin Dylan.

Rising stars

Galileo’s dam Urban Sea is never far from the action, whether on the Flat or over jumps, and now the matriarch is making her presence felt within the winter game via her other champion son Sea The Stars.

Various stallion masters are banking on the fact that Sea The Stars will become an effective sire of jumps stallions and a number of the horses in question have been extremely well supported, notably Whytemount Stud’s Affinisea (poa), a winning half-brother to Soldier Of Fortune who covered 315 mares in 2021. He has his first four-year-olds this year.

Also deservedly popular is Crystal Ocean (Beeches Stud: €8,000), an

SARAH FARNSWORTH

National Hunt sires

fees, are enjoying excellent seasons, while there is buzz surrounding the prospects of Youmzain (poa), a Group 1 sire on the Flat whose first Irish-bred crop are three, and Old Persian (poa), a Group 1-winning son of Dubawi who covered 158 mares in his first season last year.

“In the present climate, when every breeder is looking for a proven stallion for his mare, we were very pleased with

“Eagles By Day is similar in looks to his sire and has a great temperament” the popularity of Old Persian,” said Cashman. “Breeders seemed to really like his imposing presence, pedigree and race record, and he offers a great outcross for the large number of the Sadler’s Wells line mares in the country.”

Blue Bresil is currently in the midst of a purple patch, while Sholokhov is hitting great heights thanks to the brilliant Shishkin.

“The roster of our proven sires at Glenview Stud has really hit the jackpot since the start of 2021,” says Cashman.

“From initially small foal crops, Blue Bresil has produced the likes of Constitution Hill, Blue Lord and Royale Pagaille, and, with the quality and quantity of his mares increasing since his arrival in Ireland [in 2020], it would appear that his progeny will be a force to be reckoned with in years to come.

“Sholokhov’s ascent through the stallion ranks is continuing with Shishkin and Bob Olinger flying the flag at the highest level. Shishkin was bred by our longstanding resident clients Clive Bennett and his late wife Eileen, and therefore Shishkin’s success is all the more special to everyone here.

“The Irish-bred crops by Shirocco are also now making their presence felt.

During the second week of February alone he was the sire of 13 winners, including Grade 2 bumper winner Lily Du Berlais. Youmzain was also very well received by breeders upon his arrival to us in April 2018, resulting in 93 foals born from that first season.”

Dubawi appeal

Old Persian is proof of the appeal that Dubawi blood can hold for jumps breeders, something that is also in evidence when it comes to the King George and Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Poet’s Word (Boardsmill Stud: €6,000), a son of Poet’s Voice. Dubawi is also sire of Rich History (€3,500), a winning half-brother to Free Eagle who

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Marmelo: tough stayer is a welcome addition to Norton Grove Stud

GEORGE SELWYN

excellent performer who won the 2019 Prince of Wales’s Stakes and ran second in two King Georges.

He has covered over 500 mares in two seasons to date and was the subject of positive reviews at the National Hunt foal sales, where his progeny sold for up to €120,000.

There are also two new sons to choose from in Fifty Stars and Eagles By Day. Fifty Stars (Sunnyhill Stud: €3,000) was quick enough to win a Group 2 over an extended seven furlongs in Australia yet stayed a mile and a quarter well enough to win the Group 1 Australian Cup. A half-brother to Grade 1-winning hurdler Whiskey Sour, he can be expected to be well supported by connections.

Glenview Stud is another to have dipped into the Sea The Stars movement, in its case by securing Group 3 winner Eagles By Day (poa).

“He has a lovely pedigree being by Sea The Stars out of Missunited, a Group 3 winner on the Flat who also won the Galway Hurdle,” says the stud’s Catherine Cashman. “He has a solid race record, winning a Group 3 at York and running placed at Group 1 and Group 2 level, and he’s an attractive individual, standing 16.1 1/2 hands high. He’s very similar in looks to his sire and has a great temperament with a loose, athletic walk.”

Glenview Stud is currently riding on the crest of a wave; Blue Bresil, Shirocco and Sholokhov, all of whom stand for private

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retires to Kedrah House Stud, and the 102-rated Almighwar (€1,500), a son of champion Taghrooda who retires to Garryrichard Stud.

Poet’s Word, a 300,000gns yearling, has been hugely popular since his arrival to Ireland in 2020, and his progeny certainly provoked plenty of positive chat at last year’s foal sales, where they sold for up to €85,000.

A deep roster at Boardsmill Stud also includes Court Cave (€4,000), a proven Grade 1 sire with a notably good record at the Cheltenham Festival, and Group 2 winner Sumbal (€2,500), who represents the appealing combination of Danehill Dancer over Linamix. The latter moved to Boardsmill last year, where an uptick in popularity resulted in a book of 115 mares.

Indeed, the growing popularity of Danehill Dancer – fuelled in part by the success of Jeremy – has been a key trend of recent years.

In that respect, Hillstar (Garryrichard Stud: poa) deserves close attention.

A top-class performer who won the Canadian International, this son of Danehill Dancer is a half-brother to Crystal Ocean and already has a black-type performer to his credit in Hillfinch from just a handful of runners.

The success of Jeremy also serves to enhance the appeal of his sons Success Days (Kilbarry Lodge Stud: €2,000), a four-time Pattern winner whose first foals realised up to €70,000 last year, and Kool Kompany (€2,000), a Group 2-winning two-year-old who is new to Clongiffen Stud following a stint in Spain.

Looking further afield into France, Mastercraftsman’s Group 1-winning son Technician (€3,000) is an interesting prospect. A rapidly progressive threeyear-old stayer of 2019, he has retired to Haras de Montaigu, which of course developed the stud careers of Martaline and No Risk At All. Several farms have also been quick to latch on to the potential of Mount Nelson, who died in 2019 just as he was gaining momentum as a jumps sire. Knockhouse Stud welcomes German Group 2 scorer Boscaccio (poa), a tough seven-time winner, while Royal Lodge Stakes victor Berkshire (poa) remains popular at Kedrah House Stud. The latter certainly possesses the firepower to make his presence felt in future years and become another success story for Kedrah House, whose veteran Well Chosen (poa) has overcome limited numbers to gain the respect of various good judges.

In Great Voltigeur Stakes winner Monitor Closely (€2,000), there is also the opportunity to use an actual half-

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THE OWNER BREEDER

GEORGE SELWYN

National Hunt sires

Mogul: Group 1-winning son of Galileo is new to The Beeches in Ireland

brother to Mount Nelson. Sire of the Grade 2-winning chaser Eclair De Beaufeu from his time in France, he stands at Roveagh Lodge Stud alongside top miler Fuisse (€2,000), the sire of Group/Graded winners under both codes.

Similarly, the death of Champs Elysees in late 2018 left a major void. With any luck, his Group 1-winning son Way To Paris (€3,500), who covered 109 mares in his first season at Coolagown Stud last year, will maintain his legacy. As a tough and sound horse who held his form over five seasons, during which time he won five stakes races (including the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud) and placed in another 13, this likeable grey certainly possesses the attributes to be successful.

“Vadamos holds a similar profile to Maxios as a top-class miler” Coolagown has also welcomed the proven Malinas (€3,500), whose move coincided with the success of his son Master McShee in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase, to complement a roster that also consists of Carlotamix (€2,000), best known as the sire of Gemix, and Zambezi Sun (€2,000), a Group 1-winning son of Dansili whose talented daughter Zambella continues to hold her own in good company.

Another tough son of Dansili, the 21-time winner Famous Name (poa), is

stationed at Anngrove Stud alongside Group 1-winning two-year-old Marcel (poa).

Many of these sires possess the attributes to get winners under both codes, a path also trodden in recent years

by Elusive Pimpernel (Irish National Stud: €2,000), the sire of a pair of Flat Listed winners in addition to jumpers such as Coeur Sublime and Ex Patriot.

Monsun tide

As with Britain, Ireland is home to a host of sons of Monsun, including the aforementioned Shirocco.

Coolmore has been among the frontrunners of the movement as the host of Group 2 winner Ocovango (Beeches Stud: €2,500), whose first crop includes last year’s Imperial Cup winner Langer Dan, and Group 1-winning miler Maxios (Castle Hyde Stud: €7,000), whose early Flat-bred crops contain Triumph Hurdle winner Quilixios alongside a German Oaks heroine in Diamanta. Vadamos (€6,000) holds a similar profile to Maxios, being a top-class miling son of Monsun, and having been secured from Tally-Ho Stud last year went on to cover 232 mares at Grange Stud. He’s a stakes sire on the Flat but his first crop of four-year-olds also contain several hurdles winners.

Manatee (€3,000), a Group 2-winning half-brother to Dartmouth, joins Whytemount Stud from France, where he covered over 400 mares in his first four seasons. Whytemount was the driving force behind the success of Stowaway and, in addition to Manatee and Affinisea, has another interesting horse on its books in Group 2 winner Valirann (poa), the sire of Grade 2 bumper scorer Knappers Hill out of his first crop.

Away from Monsun, top German connections are boasted by In Swoop

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UBETTABLEIEVEIT KODIAC - LADYLISHANDRA (MUJADIL)

MASSAAT TEOFILO - MADANY (ACCLAMATION) FIRST CROP S YEARLING 2022

NEW FOR 2022

Brilliantly fast Gr.2 winning 2YO son of Leading Sire KODIAC from the speed family of AJDAL and Leading Gr.1 Sires FORMIDABLE and NOVERRE GROUP WINNER of 3 races at 2 years and £116,500 Won Gr.2 Flying Childers Stakes in faster time than previous winners Green Desert, Marwell, etc.

By Teofilo, sire of 6 Gr.1 winners in 2020 Brother to Gr.1 Commonwealth Cup winner EQTIDAAR and exciting Gr.3 Winning 2YO MUJBAR, from the immediate family of PRECIEUSE, etc.

Gr.1 placed at 2, 3 & 4 • Gr.2 winner over 7f • TFR 122

Standing at MICKLEY STUD • www.mickleystud.co.uk Enquiries: Richard Kent T: 079 73 315722 • E: mickleystud@btconnect.com or Clare Lloyd Tel: 07875 673260 email: karinga@btinternet.com

Marmelo

Won 5 group races 2nd Gr.1 Melbourne Cup

Ultra Consistent Stayer A Pedigree to Produce Chasers

Norton Grove Stud Forever Now Multiple Stakes winner 3rd Gr.3 Bahrain Trophy 3rd Gr.3 Sagaro Son of Galileo out of exceptional family All's Forgotten Full brother to proven NH Stallion Shantaram

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National Hunt sires (Beeches Stud: €4,500), a son of the much-missed Adlerflug who defeated Torquator Tasso to win the German Derby and also ran second in the Arc. German Derby winners Lucky Speed (poa), a son of Silvano whose first crop are five, and Kamsin (€3,500), a son of Samum whose runners are led by Auteuil Grade 1 winner On The Go, are based at Sunnyhill Stud and Annshoon Stud respectively. Annshoon Stud heads into 2022 with plenty of firepower behind it given it also recently secured Night Wish (€4,000), a Group 3-winning son of Sholokhov who has produced Listed winner Odiago out of his first crop, and the Saint Des Saints stallion Saintgodrel (€2,500).

Classic form

Indeed, Classic form is never far away. In addition to Derby runner-up Libertarian, Knockhouse Stud stands a true Flat star in Workforce (poa), the Derby and Arc hero of 2010. Workforce joined Knockhouse from Japan in 2017 and his first Irish-bred crop includes promising Naas hurdles winner Man O Work. A varied roster at Knockhouse also includes Kapgarde’s proven half-brother Kap Rock (poa) and Tirwanako (poa), who has two exciting novice chasers running for him in Adrimel, already a Grade 2 winner over hurdles, and the Grade 1-placed Gabynako.

Another Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee has been installed at Arctic Tack Stud, where he is bound to be popular at a fee of €3,500. By Farhh and related to Dubai Millennium, he was a Group 3-winning stayer and placed at Group 1 level on six occasions.

St Leger winners Scorpion (poa), the sire of Might Bite, and Arctic Cosmos (poa) reside at Old Road Stud, while St Leger third Snow Sky (poa), a well-related Juddmonte-bred son of Nayef who won the Hardwicke Stakes and Yorkshire Cup, stands at Ballycurragh Stud. The latter is off the mark with his first five-year-olds, which include £110,000 pointer Snowy Evening Speaking of well-related Juddmontebred horses, Kilbarry Lodge Stud is hfome to Pillar Coral (€1,500), a Zamindar half-brother to Martaline, Coastal Path and Reefscape. His first crop are three-yearolds and breeders obviously liked what they saw given his book rose to over 110 mares last year. Also popular at the same stud is Diamond Boy (poa), who is well represented in these parts by recent Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase winner L’Homme Presse and talented hurdler Grand Sancy.

With Doctor Dino carrying all before him in France, it will also be interesting

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THE OWNER BREEDER

Exciting season ahead of Nunstainton Stud Nunstainton Stud in County Durham has long been one of the mainstays of the British jumps scene as the past host of Great Palm and Millenary among others.

The family-run operation has received a real shot in the arm, however, with the addition of Classic winner Kingston Hill, who arrives on a two-year lease from Coolmore. The son of Mastercraftsman stands for £2,000 alongside Dragon Dancer, Cannock Chase and Norse Dancer.

“Kingston Hill will be great for us,” says the stud’s Chris Dawson. “We’re a small stud and we had mentioned to Richard Venn that we were looking for another horse but it was quite hard to find one. Then this horse came up and we jumped at the chance.”

Few horses in the dual-purpose sphere offer the kind of race record possessed by Kingston Hill. Trained

by Roger Varian, he won the Racing Post Trophy at two and was rated a champion stayer at three, when his achievements included a win in the St Leger and second in the Derby.

He has stood for Coolmore since his retirement in 2016 and boasts several promising Flat winners among his early crops, including multiple scorer Galador and 95-rated Tashi. He is also off the mark over jumps thanks to the likes of Irish Hill, a hurdles winner for Paul Nicholls, and Keith Dalgleish’s Hear Me Out. Crucially, he covered big books at Coolmore – 228 mares in 2019 and 184 in 2020 – meaning he has plenty of ammunition in the pipeline.

“He’s a very good-looking horse who should suit our clients because he’s also quite capable of getting a nice Flat horse,” says Dawson. “He’s also got plenty to run for him – the quality and numbers of mares he’s received gives him a real chance.”

Dawson is also looking forward to relaunching Cannock Chase, the Canadian International winner who initially retired to Nunstainton in 2017.

The son of Lemon Drop Kid stood for a single season with the stud before heading on his travels but nevertheless

made his presence felt at the stud, not only in the stamp of stock he left behind but as the sire of several firstcrop winners.

“He got a few two-year-old winners from that crop with us,” says Dawson.

“And now he’s starting to get good results over jumps. We like what he produces, he gets very good-looking stock and, when the opportunity arose to stand him again, we were keen to have him back.”

Derby runner-up Dragon Dancer, who is perhaps best known as the sire of multiple hurdles winner Goodbye Dancer, will also continue to benefit from the stud’s support, as will Yanworth’s sire Norse Dancer, who joined last season following a spell at Yorton Farm Stud.

“Norse Dancer is an outcross for Sadler’s Wells, which suits us well,” says Dawson of the son of Halling. “I thought when we got him last year that we could cover five to six mares of our own and maybe get a few outside ones, and then that would pay for his keep. But when we got him the phone never stopped ringing and in the end he covered 34 mares, which was great.

“He’s 22-years-old now but he’s still a beautiful horse. Obviously Yanworth has been his main flagbearer over jumps but he’s also sired several good horses on the Flat, like Norse King [a Group 2 winner].”

Dragon Dancer stands for £1,500, while Norse Dancer has been priced at £2,000.

to see how Group 3 winner Silas Marner (poa), another son of Muhtathir, fares at Knockmullen House Stud.

Also worthy of attention are Primary (Tullyraine House Stud: poa) following the

exploits of his Grade 1-winning son First Flow, and Gamut (Rosshill Farm: poa), the sire of Grade 1 winners Road To Riches and Road To Respect among others.

GEORGE SELYWN

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Kingston Hill: “He’s a very good-looking horse who should suit our clients”

STALLIONS, RACING CLUB, TRAINING AND SPELLING

NUNSTAINTON STUD DRAGON DANCER

KINGSTON HILL

By Sadler’s Wells ex. Alakananda

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By Mastercraftsman ex. Audacieuse

Consistent Group Level Performer over 12f, incl. beaten a short head in the 2006 Derby.

Sire of Winners under Both Codes.

Top class pedigree, looks, confirmation and temperament.

One of a few remaining stallions by the great SADLER’S WELLS.

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Unbeaten Group 1 winning 2yo.

Classic Winner & Champion Stayer in Europe at 3.

Already a Sire of Winners under Both Codes.

Exciting books of progeny ahead.

Fee: £2,000

Fee: £1,500

CANNOCK CHASE

NORSE DANCER

By Lemon Drop Kid ex. Lynwood Chase l

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Group Winner over 10/12f, incl. Canadian International at Woodbine.

Oldest Crop just turned 4.

Sire of Winners under Both Codes.

4 NH runners to date (1 won 2 placed).

By Halling ex. River Patrol

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Winner of his first two 2yo races.

Group winner and placed, incl. 2nd in the Irish Champion Stakes and 3rd in the 2000 Guineas.

Proven Black-Type Producer under Both Codes, including YANWORTH and NORSE KING. Fee: £2,000

Fee: £1,000

For further details contact; Chris Dawson: Gypsy Lane, Ferryhill, Co. Durham, DL17 0LG www.nunstaintonstud.com • Facebook: Nunstainton Stud • Tel: 07796 530084

BURATINO

Ch. 2013, 16. 00 h. h. , EXCEED AND EX C E L – B URGAM ASK ( KI NGM AM B O)

FIRST SEASON IN BRITAIN IN 2022

GR.2 WINNER AT 2 AT ROYAL ASCOT TURF RECORD Won 4 races at 2 years, £170,241, and was placed 5 times incl.

Won Gr.2 Coventry S, 6f, Royal Ascot, beating AIR FORCE BLUE (Gr.1 x 3), by 2l, “Impressive” Racing Post Won LR Woodcote S, 6f, Epsom, by 6l “A well up to scratch edition of the race and it produced an impressive winner.”

ALREADY A STAKES SIRE SNAPRAETEREA – 4 races at 2 and 3, 2021, incl.

LR Owenstown Stud S, LR Platinum S, 3rd Gr.2 Beresford S, at 2, Gr.3 Gallinule S, 4th Gr.2 Futurity S, at 2, Gr.3 Amethyst S, Gr.3 Hampton Court S. RUN FOR ME – 2nd GP der Mehl-Mühlens Stiftung, 2021.

MACASAI – 3rd LR Criterium Femminile, at 2, 2021.

Fee for 2022: £3,000 (1st Oct) Standing at:

The only son of EXCEED AND EXCEL in Britain

HEDGEHOLME STUD WINSTON, DARLINGTON, CO. DURHAM DL2 3RS.

Enquiries: ANDREW SPALDING • Telephone: +44 (0) 1325 730209 • Mobile: +44 (0) 7990 518751 • e-mail: hedgeholme@gmail.com • www.hedgeholmestud.com

THE OWNER BREEDER

45

Breeze-up season

New

GROUND

The launch of the Dubai Breeze-Up Sale, a boutique auction of 69 two-year-olds at Meydan later this month, marks another milestone for Goffs

T

he Goffs Group has a proud tradition of selling horses all over the world, with the Doncaster team having held sales in such far-flung locations as Hong Kong, Italy, Qatar and Sweden, and the Irish arm finally achieving the industry’s long-held ambition of conducting an auction in London.

The company is breaking new ground on the international stage once again, with the launch of the Dubai Breeze-Up Sale in association with Goffs at Meydan racecourse on Wednesday, March 23.

The sale, restricted to a maximum

Goffs have broken new ground with the launch of the Dubai Breeze-Up Sale on March 23

46

THE OWNER BREEDER

of 69 two-year-olds that will have been sourced from British and Irish vendors

by Goffs, is the brainchild of the firm’s international client relations consultant Tom Taaffe.

He says: “I was on a promotional trip to Dubai when I got talking with the trainer Salem bin Ghadayer, who would be a good friend of mine and is very well respected by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, the Chairman of Dubai Racing Club.

“I thought I’d throw the idea of holding a sale in Dubai out there, and see how it went down, and Salem was very

GOFFS

Interviews: Martin Stevens

Dubai Sale is the brainchild of Tom Taaffe

Midnight Sands: Group 3 winner is a European breeze-up graduate who has thrived in Dubai

DUBAI RACING CLUB

interested and so we discussed how it might work for several more evenings.

Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Rashid embraced the idea and drove the project from there, and it was they who said it should become an international event.”

The sale, the first of its kind in Dubai, is a breeze-up by name but won’t resemble a modern European breezeup sale in nature. The lots will have undergone a full veterinary examination before travel at the expense of the Dubai Racing Club, in order to increase buyer confidence, and they will be shown off on the Tapeta training track at Meydan.

Moreover, timing will not be everything.

“This will be the first time that raw material for racing has been sold in Dubai,” continues Taaffe. “I know breezeup horses aren’t strictly raw material, but they’re pretty close. Our intention is to have the horses just swing away on the bridle in a three-quarter breeze, not being revved up to stop the clock at nine or ten seconds for a furlong.

There’ll be no timing and no stride pattern figures, it’ll be all about natural horses with raw ability that the buyer can harness themselves in the future.

“We want prospective purchasers to be able to see that the horses can move well, and that they have the conformation and physique to match their pedigrees. The focus will be on providing sustainable horses that will be able to train on over many seasons, at all levels of ability.

››

THE OWNER BREEDER

47

Breeze-Up season

DUBAI RACING CLUB

Summer Romance: Group 2 winner has also showcased the European breeze-up system to great effect in Dubai

››

“There isn’t the same obsession with fast and precocious two-year-olds in the Middle East, they’re more into horses that have longevity. Any horses that are bought to remain there will likely be given downtime to acclimatise for a few months before going into pre-training, and they probably won’t be running until November at the earliest. It’s a completely different market to what we know.”

The catalogue will comprise a mixture of turf and dirt horses, to reflect the racing opportunities in the sale’s primary market of the Middle East.

“It’ll be pretty much half and half,” says Taaffe. “It’s worth remembering that there isn’t such a big distinction between dirt and turf in those countries, as they have both surfaces and horses often switch between the two. Many of our vendors will be able to answer the call for dirt horses as they will have sourced yearlings in the US with this sale in mind.”

Not that Middle Eastern buyers are expected to be the only participants at

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THE OWNER BREEDER

the new Dubai World Cup Breeze-Up Sale. With much of the racing world converging on Meydan that week, including those from the US, Asia and Russia, it promises to be a cosmopolitan buyers’ bench.

“It is the Middle East buyers that we’re mainly targeting” “Dubai is the same as any other country with its own quarantine rules, but once the horses are through that they can go anywhere,” says Taaffe. “I know a few British and Irish trainers have told me they’re going to go along and see if they can buy something.

“It is the Middle East buyers that we’re mainly targeting, though, as it’s a market that is growing massively.

Nobody needs me to remind them how many horsemen from those countries come to Britain and Ireland to buy, and how many horses they go back home with.

“The Gulf Cooperation Council countries’ racing associations have recently got together to agree on a much more cohesive racing programme, with each jurisdiction staging meetings that better complement the others’, so there’s firmer foundations for the future of the sport there, and it’s exciting to be a part of that.”

The sale is receiving a considerable boost in its early years, with Sheikh Mohammed and his nephew Sheikh Rashid getting behind it as another way in which to raise Dubai’s profile internationally.

“Sheikh Mohammed wants to make a statement to the world that Dubai can hold an elite sale of untried horses who

BILL SELWYN

will go on to be successful, and over the coming years the sale will attract more foreign investment not just from the GCC countries but from further afield too,” says Taaffe. “It’s all part of maintaining Dubai’s position as a world leader in racing.

“You shouldn’t underestimate how much they love welcoming people to their country and making new relationships, either. It’s a big thing for them, and this promises to create all sorts of new opportunities for them.

“Sheikh Mohammed has been very good in agreeing to pay for the vendors’ airfares to Dubai, and covering staffing costs while they’re there. They wouldn’t get that at any other sale, and it just goes to show how enthusiastic Dubai is about getting the sale off the ground.”

Preparations for the inaugural Dubai Breeze-Up Sale have made for a very different March for Taaffe. Until he called time on his training career in early 2021 he had spent the previous 27 years putting the finishing touches to his Cheltenham Festival squad this month.

The hard work was not in vain, of course, as he sent out the great Kicking King to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2005 and notched notable handicap victories at the Festival with Finger Onthe Pulse and Ninetieth Minute.

“I made the decision to stop training as I wanted to devote more time to projects in the bloodstock industry that I had taken on,” says Taaffe. “I’m very happy to be an owner now, and I’m still breeding away, so it’s not as if I’ve been cast into the wilderness!

“I’ll still take a keen interest in the Festival, of course. I always will: it’s the biggest event in jump racing and just a fantastic spectacle. My son Pat is riding now, combining that with attending college, and he’s had a few winners, which is good.”

Like his flagship horse Kicking King, a runner-up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle Chase before his victory in the meeting’s Blue Riband, Taaffe is showing remarkable versatility by excelling in his new role as an international sale coordinator.

“It’s a challenge, no doubt, but I love taking on new challenges,” he says. “This project is exciting because I really think it’s going to work.

“Goffs have put a lot of hard work and effort into it, and our enthusiasm is being matched in Dubai. It’s a world away from preparing horses for the Cheltenham Festival, but life changes and you move on and adapt.”

Native Trail: champion two-year-old was sold at last year’s Tattersalls Craven Sale

On the breeze-up trail for future stars The European breeze-up season kicks off on April 11 with the threeday Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale in Newmarket, which can claim quite the flagbearer: no less than last year’s unbeaten champion twoyear-old Native Trail, who was sold

by Oak Tree Farm to Godolphin for 210,000gns.

Mystery Angel provides a fine advert for the versatile talents and bargains available there. The daughter of Kodi Bear was bought by Nick Bradley from the Hyde Park Stud draft for only 22,000gns, and after winning the Pretty Polly Stakes and running second in the Oaks last year, she was sold to Haruya Yoshida for 500,000gns at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.

Tattersalls is once again offering lucrative bonuses for Craven BreezeUp Sale graduates – £125,000 each to the first winner of a Royal Ascot two-year-old race and a European Group 1 juvenile heat, and £15,000 for those who score in certain maiden and novice races.

The breeze-up bandwagon rolls into Doncaster for the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale from April 19 to 21. It was there last year that Blandford Bloodstock gave £110,000 for an Ardad colt from Tally-Ho Stud who would become Norfolk Stakes, Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes winner Perfect Power.

Light Infantry and Twilight Jet were among the other top-class two-yearold talents sourced in South Yorkshire that week.

It’s back to Newmarket for the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale from April 26 to 28. Prices are usually a little lower here, but the standard of horse on offer is still high – as proven by recent Group or Grade 1-winning graduates Shantisara (cost 10,000gns) and Trueshan (31,000gns).

Arqana, scheduled for May 12 and 13 in Deauville, has become one of the most boutique sales anywhere in the world. Accordingly, buyers have to pay a pretty penny for the best prospects, as shown by the fact Godolphin had to go to €800,000 for Rizeena’s Kingman half-sister Summer Romance, now a Dubai Group 2 winner and twice a Grade 1 runner-up in the US, when she was offered by Mocklershill in 2019.

That doesn’t mean some good ones don’t slip through the net though, as Simone Brogi managed to get the future American Grade 1 winner Rockemperor, another Mocklershill breezer, for just €12,000 in 2018.

The Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Sale, to be held on May 18 and 19 this year, has also grown considerably in stature. The high-class pair Haqeeqy and Parent’s Prayer were the top two lots at the 2019 renewal, costing €175,000 and €165,000 respectively.

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49

Breeders’ Digest

Nancy Sexton Bloodstock Editor

Saudi Arabian ambition coming into sharper focus

I

old auctions. In the meantime, there is reportedly hope of Saudi Arabian participation at this month’s inaugural Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale at Meydan.

A GRAND SERVANT

TATTERSALLS

n a year when racing suffered the loss of Sheikh Hamdan and Prince Khalid Abdullah, it can be argued that the acceleration of Najd Stud as a major buying force could not have come at a more opportune time.

Since July, the late Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Estates has sold 403 horses through Tattersalls and Goffs under its own name, and catalogued around 80 to the various winter breeding stock sales in Kentucky, although plenty of those horses were withdrawn at the last minute. As Shadwell is scaled back worldwide, it follows that no purchases are being made at public auction.

Against that, 2021 was a year when the buying power of Saudi Arabian interests came into sharper focus. Their interest is nothing new – such buyers have long regularly replenished their stock out of North America and Europe – but it has to be said that the ambition for Saudi Arabia to sit at racing’s top table has never been stronger, and that desire to improve racing in the region is now reaping rewards. The $35.1 million Saudi Cup meeting, now in its third year, is naturally helping drive that ambition forward, with its lucrative purses key in attracting a wide range of international runners.

However, it isn’t all about that one Saturday meeting in February.

The Saudi Jockey Club hosts a total of 90 meetings this season at the King Abdulaziz racecourse in Riyadh, up from 64 last season. The launch of another racecourse is also reportedly being planned. More meetings naturally fuels the need for more horses.

There is a robust breeding programme in Saudi Arabia, supported by recent expensive stallion purchases such as Siskin’s sire First Defence.

However, interest in the acquisition of proven quality racing stock also appears to be on the rise.

For instance, Saudi Arabian buyers accounted for 121 horses – worth 12,281,500gns – at Tattersalls last year.

Chief among them were Prince Faisal bin Khalid Al Saud’s Najd Stud, which came away with 2,791,000gns worth of horses in conjunction with Peter and Ross Doyle at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, including the

Grocer Jack: Group 3 winner was bought by Najd Stud for a sale-topping 700,000gns

700,000gns sale-topper Grocer Jack.

That particular horse, a Group 3 winner in Germany, is now with William Haggas but other purchases such as My Frankel (310,000gns) and Third Kingdom (135,000gns) were shipped straight to Saudi Arabia, where they have already been successful.

Najd Stud was back in action at last month’s Tattersalls February Sale, where 310,000gns worth of purchases included the Group 3-placed Wuqood, bought for 170,000gns, and at the Goffs February Sale, where as leading buyer it came away with seven yearlings and one three-year-old filly worth a total of €288,000.

Michael Donohoe of BBA Ireland is also a regular purchaser of stock on behalf of Saudi Arabian interests, and his acquisitions for such clients last year included the Vertem Futurity fourth Hannibal Barca, bought for 500,000gns.

Nor are the desires of Saudi Arabian interests confined to proven horses.

Breeze-up sales have also benefitted from their participation, with the second top-rated Saudi three-year-old Almuthanna a graduate of Florida’s OBS March Sale and two-time winner Street Boy having been purchased for 110,000gns out of last year’s Tattersalls Craven Sale. Perhaps the latter’s success will help to spur on interest at this year’s round of European two-year-

There was some sad news last month with the announcement that ill health had forced the retirement of Le Havre from stud duty.

The 16-year-old son of Noverre is proof of how the strong support of an owner-breeder, in his case Gerard Augustin-Normand, can be influential in launching a stallion. In turn, Le Havre can also be credited as a driving force behind the rise of Augustin-Normand’s racing fortunes and the horse’s base of Montfort et Preaux in Normandy, which operates today under Nurlan Bizakov’s Sumbe banner.

Le Havre’s retirement to stud in 2010 coincided with a lull in the French stallion ranks, exacerbated by the retirements or deaths of stalwarts such as Linamix, Highest Honor and Anabaa.

But from his first runners onwards, Le Havre did his bit to fill that void to the extent that today his record consists of 50 stakes winners, five of them – including Chris Wright’s excellent mare Wonderful Tonight – at Group 1 level.

It is testament to the support of Augustin-Normand, as well as the management of his advisor Sylvain Vidal, that eight of Le Havre’s Group winners have been bred at Montfort et Preaux (or Haras de la Cauviniere as it was known until 2017), among them the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane heroines Avenir Certain and La Cressionniere.

Le Havre is starting to make an impact through his daughters, one of them being La Pyle, the dam of Pyledriver. However, with only two minor sons at stud in France, it is unlikely that his sire line will take hold and, with that, access to that descending from Blushing Groom diminishes even further. Once a powerful line responsible for Rainbow Quest, Nashwan and Le Havre’s grandsire Rahy, it today hangs by a thread, its fortunes resting on the likes of Rio De La Plata in France and Bago and Animal Kingdom in Japan.

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51

Sales Circuit • By Carl Evans

Depth of trade maintains positive start to the year Goffs UK put this two-day sale back on track at its Doncaster venue after being forced to sideline it due to a Covid lockdown in 2021.

A 72-lot online auction took place instead, with some very good results, but with horses back in the ring – and the TBA’s National Hunt stallion show taking place in Yard A – a 71% clearance rate was a perfectly acceptable note on which to kick off what is hoped will be a normal sales year.

On a slightly downbeat note, a top price of £56,000 suggests buyers did not spot many future stars, particularly in the horses-in-training and point-to-point section.

That headline figure was given for a young yearling No Risk At All filly bred in Devon by Sarah and Nigel Faulks of Yeo Barton Bloodstock, and consigned for them by Jess Westwood, who briefly held a licence to train jumpers but now concentrates on foaling mares, plus breaking and pre-training. Her preparation of the filly, backed up by a pedigree full of winners, caught the eye of Kieran and Cathal Mariga of County Cork’s Coolmara Stables, and it was their bid which proved decisive.

Leading jump trainer Dan Skelton was active as a foal buyer, his £50,000 bid securing a daughter of Jack Hobbs from Throckmorton Court Stud. Skelton’s plan is to race the filly and then retire her to his family’s Alne Park Stud, and since she is a half-sister to the leading novice hurdler Constitution Hill – who Nicky Henderson is training for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham – there is every reason to hope she can excel in both parts of her planned career.

Six-year-old Lexi’s Choice, a

GOFFS UK

Goffs UK January Mixed Sale

A daughter of sire-of-the-moment No Risk At All was the star turn at £56,000

Presenting half-sister to Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Johns Spirit, topped a small group of mares and fillies out of training when selling for £52,000 to Kieran Lennon of County Carlow’s Springhill Stud, while five-year-old winning point-to-pointer Criquette also made £52,000 to head the in-training horses offered on day two.

Consigned by County Wexford-based James Doyle, whose sister Ellen had

trained the daughter of Crillon to win at Borris House in Carlow four weeks earlier, Criquette was knocked down to Jerry McGrath, the former jockey-turned-agent and new member of Goffs’ inspection team.

He was acting for racehorse owner Stewart Brackenbury who bought the mare for his son Ben to ride in races from the stables of Northamptonshire trainer Alex Hales.

TALKING POINT • An 86% clearance of horses from the session devoted to point-to-pointers and horses in training suggests the market would have happily perused more than the 58 lots on offer, of which 52 were sold.

A sale at Cheltenham a few days later was strong competition in this sector, yet Doncaster has sold six-figure point-to-pointers at recent editions of the January Sale.

Goffs UK January Mixed Sale Top lots Name/age/sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (£)

Buyer

F No Risk At All - Only For Love

Yeo Barton Bloodstock/Molland Ridge Stud

56,000

Coolmara Stables

Lexi’s Choice 6 m Presenting - Gilt Ridden

Cobhall Court Stud

52,000

Springhill Stud

Criquette 5 m Crillon - Lost Maiby

Baltimore Stables

52,000

J. P. McGrath/S. Brackenbury

F Jack Hobbs - Queen Of The Stage

Throckmorton Court Stud

50,000

Alne Park Stud

F Getaway – Jelan

Overbury Stud

43,000

Swanbridge Bloodstock

52

THE OWNER BREEDER

Figures Year

Sold

Aggregate (£)

Average (£)

Median (£)

Top price (£)

2022

179

1,840,800

10,284

7,000

56,000

2021

(Online sale of horses in training)

2020

176

2,693,100

15,302

9,000

370,000

The 2021 version of Tattersalls’ Cheltenham January Sale was knocked out by a national lockdown, while the inaugural 2020 version took place in the Owners’ & Trainers’ Marquee.

This meant the horses on offer walked around the racecourse paddock, and not in front of their audience. For the latest edition, the auction – held once again on a day of racing at the famous venue – was moved to Tattersalls’ sales ring near the racecourse stables, the horses were able to circle before buyers and the figures showed handsome gains.

A 13-runner maiden point-to-point at Dromahane in December became a focus

Weveallbeencaught will continue his career with Nigel Twiston-Davies

TATTERSALLS CHELTENHAM

Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale

of interest, for the first three from that race all changed hands for profitable returns, headed by the winner, five-year-old Weveallbeencaught. Trained by Michael Kennedy in County Cork, the son of

TALKING POINT • Shock and horror – Tattersalls is to stage a specific sale of jumping stock at its hallowed Park Paddocks headquarters in Newmarket.

Announced in mid-January, far too early for an April Fool’s Day prank, the company said it would be staging a sale comprising young jumping stock – think point-topointers and bumper performers – and store horses on May 26. The event will be named the May NH Sale, so there is no room for doubting the intended market.

Tattersalls was forced to switch sales of young jumpers from Cheltenham to Newmarket during the height of the pandemic, and received positive feedback.

Getaway became the sale’s top lot when knocked down to racehorse owner Jimmy Wenman for £210,000. A thrilled Wenman, who has sent his purchase to Nigel Twiston-Davies, could not help but let out a yelp of delight when the hammer fell.

Raised in Cheltenham, but now living in Essex where he runs mobile home parks – an industry which is generating a number of racehorse owners – Wenman has owned numerous winners, but never one at the home of Jump racing.

Supreme Commander, who chased home Weveallbeencaught, was sold for £120,000 to Tom Malone, while thirdplaced Tightenyourbelts made £75,000 to a bid from Gerry Hogan. The last-named agent also invested £125,000 on winning

››

With racecourse crowds now back at Cheltenham the company’s sales there will continue, but the May sale was a stand-alone event without racing, so it is the one which has been moved. In 2019, when last held in Cheltenham, the May Sale turned over nearly £3 million.

Why not just continue with a May sale at Cheltenham, adding in a section of stores if necessary? A Tattersalls spokesman said the extra space and facilities at Newmarket had been a factor, and added there was no desire to take stores from the May and Derby store sales staged by Tattersalls Ireland. It will be interesting to see how many stores head to Newmarket, and if any will come from Ireland. Novelty and rarity value might mean some Irish store vendors view the new sale as appealing.

Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale Top lots Name/age/sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (£)

Buyer

Weveallbeencaught 5 g Getaway – Curvacious

Michael Kennedy

210,000

Twiston-Davies Equine/Jimmy Wenman

Queens Vic 5 m Shirocco – Petrovic

Cobajay Stables (Aidan Fitzgerald)

175,000

Joey Logan/Gordon Elliott/Andy Brown

Copperfasten 5 m Flemensfirth - Copper Dusht

Woodstock Stables (Terence O’Brien)

160,000

Louise Bowtell/Select Racing Bloodstock

Iliade Allen 4 f Rail Link – Atacames

Nick Williams

130,000

Highflyer Bloodstock (P/S)

Western Diego 5 g Westerner - Ask Me Sister

Saltee View Stables (Mark Scallan)

125,000

Gerry Hogan Bloodstock

Inch House 5 g Ocovango - Ask Hazel

Skehanagh Stables (Sam Curling)

125,000

Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock

Are U Wise To That 5 g Walk In The Park - Pretty Puttens

Howardstown House (Enda Bolger)

125,000

Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock

Figures Year

Sold

Aggregate (£)

Average (£)

Median (£)

Top price (£)

2022

34

2,672,000

78,588

69,000

210,000

2020

13

802,000

61,692

55,000

135,000

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53

Sales Circuit Scallan’s Wexford yard.

Racehorse owners Andy and Gemma Brown possess a red-hot Cheltenham Festival fancy in Pied Piper, who heads the betting market for the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

On the day of this sale, Pied Piper called the tune when cantering up in a trial for

Tattersalls Ireland February NH Sale

This was another sale which returned to the schedule following last year’s lockdown, and it too provided its organisers with a good start to a busy year.

The average price of €13,064 was a record for the event, while turnover of nearly €2.2 million was 13% up on the 2020 figure and the highest recorded since 2007 when it was a three-day sale.

The median dipped imperceptibly to €9,000, while the clearance rate gained three points to reach 60%. Tattersalls Ireland’s CEO, Simon Kerins, spoke of his pleasure at staging a live sale “under more ‘normal’ conditions” and said it had followed trends set at the record-breaking Derby and November Sales of young jumping stock. It seems there are plenty of pinhookers and end users who retain faith in the robustness of jump racing’s appeal.

Young yearlings were the catalogue’s main feast, but the nine-year-old maiden mare Robin De Carlow headed trade when selling for €70,000 to Ballincurrig House Stud’s Michael Moore, who was

Six British point-to-pointers were offered and they all found a buyer, headed

by Tom and Gina Ellis’s Pedley Wood, a son of Westerner and winner of his sole start in a maiden race at Sheriff Hutton in Yorkshire. Knocked down to Ross Doyle for £75,000, he was bought for clients of trainer Colin Tizzard.

that race, and a few hours later the couple bought Queens Vic for £175,000 from the County Carlow stable of Aidan Fitzgerald.

Joey Logan, who acts for the Browns, said Gordon Elliott would train the mare.

Her dam, Petrovic, was a half-sister to Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Minella Rocco.

acting for English breeder Simon Cox. Robin De Carlow was not the first Willie Mullins-trained mare to top a sale and she won’t be the last given the great trainer’s ability with horses of her sex. He saddled the daughter of Robin Des Champs to win eight races, the most recent a Grade 3 win at Tipperary in 2019 over high-class Put The Kettle On. Moore was also involved in the sale of the leading young yearling, a No Risk At All colt he owned in partnership after buying privately as a weanling from his breeder in France. Kieran Shields was happy to give Moore a profit when investing €62,000 to buy the colt, who had been named Perfect Ball. His dam, Princesse Kap, won nine races in France at up to Grade 2 level.

When it comes to in-vogue Jump stallions, Haras de Montaigu’s No Risk At All, who was also responsible for the top yearling at this sale in 2020, faces stiff competition from Walk In The Park, who stands under the Coolmore banner. The pick of his stock at this sale was sold for €60,000 to Jason Higgins, who is based in County Wexford, and who said he might sell his purchase as a store or after

TATTERSALLS IRELAND

›› Irish pointer Western Diego from Mark

Grade 3-winning hurdler Robin De Carlow headed trade on a €70,000 bid

running in point-to-points.

Another Wexford man, James Doyle, bought foals at Doncaster’s January Sale – where he also sold the top-priced pointer Criquette for £52,000 – and he was back in action at this event. His purchases included a €54,000 Milan yearling out of an unraced half-sister to Appreciate It. The last-named has not been seen since winning last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but it is hoped he will make the line-up for the forthcoming Champion Hurdle.

Tattersalls Ireland February NH Sale Top lots Name/age/sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Buyer

Robin De Carlow 8 m Robin Des Champs - La Reine De Riogh

Closutton Stables

70,000

Ballincurrig House/Simon Cox

C No Risk At All - Princesse Kap

Ballincurrig House Stud

62,000

Kieran Shields

C Walk In The Park – Myztique

Ardrums House Stud

60,000

Jason Higgins

C Milan - Ballincard Saint

Ballincard Farm

54,000

James Doyle

C Walk In The Park - Kalico Kalista

Eileen Ryan

50,000

Richard Frisby

C Sholokhov - Carrigeen Lechuga

Rathkenty Stud

50,000

Gearoid O’Loughlin

Figures Year

Sold

Aggregate (€)

Average (€)

Median (€)

Top price (€)

2022

167

2,181,750

13,064

9,000

70,000

168

1,928,950

11,482

9,250

60,000

2021

No sale

2020

54

THE OWNER BREEDER

Tattersalls February Sale

TATTERSALLS

Choice lots from Shadwell Estates and Godolphin helped push up the figures at this two-day mixed sale.

First and second-season stallions who took part in the TBA Stallion Parade provided the traditional hors d’oeuvres, and when selling commenced, notable gains in the key indicators were always likely. Last year’s sale had been an online and telephone bidding occasion, so comparisons with it would be nebulous at best, but an 85% clearance rate, a record median of 10,000gns and average (17,833gns) and turnover (5,849,100gns) were all figures that had been bettered only once before and were welcome at the start of Tattersalls’ year of sales in Newmarket.

Culls from Shadwell, which is restructuring following Sheikh Hamdan’s death last year, and Godolphin have been influential at other sales, but here they accounted for nine of the top ten lots.

Such drafts not only generate turnover for sales companies and horse-buying opportunities for others within the trade, they act as a magnet to draw in buyers from abroad, which helps drive sales on horses offered by other vendors.

The horse who headed those in training was a case in point. Four-year-old colt Wuqood was among a group of horses who drew Saud Al Qahtani from Saudi Arabia on behalf of his Najd Stud employer. Al Qahtani’s bid of 170,000gns secured Wuqood, a son of Dubawi who had been Group 3-placed for Sheikh

Part of a weighty presence from Shadwell, this Night Of Thunder colt sold for 175,000gns

Hamdan from Dermot Weld’s stable, and who was one of 57 horses catalogued by the Tom Blain-managed Barton Sales, a sure sign of its growing popularity as a representative/go-between for vendors at bloodstock sales. New England Stud also acted as a consignor of Shadwell horses.

Najd Stud secured three horses at the sale, while other buyers for Saudi Arabian clients made their presence felt when investing in horses with form and further races in the tank.

Trade was headed by a rather different type of horse – albeit another Shadwell homebred – being a yearling colt by Night Of Thunder and out of a mare who is three from three with her foals of racing age, including two

black-type earners. He was sold for 175,000gns to James Hanly of Ballyhimikin Stud, who was standing with long-time ally Anthony Stroud. The goal was to pinhook the horse at a yearling sale in the autumn, said Stroud.

Shadwell’s seven-year-old Anasheed proved the pick of the catalogue’s broodmares, and while she was not in foal that did not deter Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown from posting a 130,000gns bid to gain her passport. A daughter of Frankel, Anasheed won two of three races for Owen Burrows and she already has foals by Siyouni and Sea The Stars to carry her flag onto the racecourse. Brown, who was acting for a syndicate, said a mating with Ardad was one option.

Tattersalls February Sale Top lots Name/age/sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (gns)

Buyer

C Night Of Thunder – Elshaadin

Shadwell Estate Company Ltd

175,000

Ballyhimikin Stud

Wuqood 4 c Dubawi – Tarfasha

Shadwell Estate Co./Barton Sales

170,000

Najd Stud

Anasheed 7 m Frankel – Hathrah

Shadwell Estate Company Ltd

130,000

Blandford Bloodstock

Mashaaer 3 f Muhaarar - Fleeting Smile

Shadwell Estate Co./Barton Sales

105,000

Meah/Lloyd BS for Jonathan Sarkar

2 f Exceed And Excel – Nawassi

Shadwell Estate Co./New England Stud

105,000

Satish Seemar

Good Memories 4 f Sea The Stars - Khor Sheed

Godolphin

100,000

Sam Sangster Bloodstock

Figures Year

Sold

Aggregate (gns)

Average (gns)

Median (gns)

Top price (gns)

2022

328

5,849,100

17,833

10,000

175,000

*2021

219

2,564,400

11,710

6,000

120,000

2020

264

3,260,300

12,350

6,500

200,000

2019

294

3,139,100

10,677

5,000

105,000

2018

299

8,037,150

26,880

7,000

1,900,000

THE OWNER BREEDER

55

››

Sales Circuit Goffs February Sale

There was something for buyers with Flat and Jump aspirations at this sale which had been extended to three days.

The figures were well up, both on last year’s smaller, online event and on the 2020 version which took place just before the dreaded pandemic clambered across our lives. Comparing the key indicators with the 2020 sale reveals that at the latest edition turnover in excess of €6 million was a rise of 48%, the average price of €17,103 was up 23% while the median gained 38% at €9,000.

Horses offered from Shadwell’s reduction and reconstruction made another notable contribution, but the joy of top-lot honours went to Eamonn Phelan’s Derryluskin Stud which sold the four-year-old gelding Invincible Power for €150,000 to syndicate specialists Sunday Racing. Its founder, Darren McGrath, who set the business up in 2018 as a way of providing an inexpensive route into racehorse ownership, said Donald McCain would take delivery of the son of Great Pretender, who had shown promise when third and then fourth in two French Jump races while trained by Pierre Fertillet.

A Shadwell-bred two-year-old colt

by Teofilo proved the highest-valued horse in his age group when selling for €135,000 to Clare Manning, granddaughter of trainer Jim Bolger, while a Night Of Thunder colt headed the young yearlings. Consigned by

Donald McCain will train Invincible Power following his sale for €150,000

Baroda Stud for Shadwell, he was knocked down for €125,000 to Frannie Woods of Rathbarry Stud, who hopes to resell his purchase later this year.

David and Tamso Cox’s Baroda Stud also sold the leading mare, seven-yearold Recife, who carried a Mehmas foal around the ring. A winner in her native Germany, Recife was sold to the County Meath-based Rathbran House Stud for €110,000.

Two other mares representing racing’s twin codes made €90,000.

Bridal Knot had failed in two runs for

Nicky Henderson, but being a Walk In The Park half-sister to top-class jumpers Might Bite and Beat That made her very desirable, while the Godolphinconsigned 12-year-old Belonging, who was Listed-placed, in foal to Dark Angel and with two winners on the ground, had similar appeal.

County Carlow breeder Seamus Byrne signed for Bridal Knot, while BBA Ireland gained Belonging.

Goffs Group CEO Henry Beeby summed up the sale by saying: “All in all a very encouraging start to 2022.”

Goffs February Sale Top lots Name/age/sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Buyer

Invincible Power 4 g Great Pretender – Coronet

Derryluskin Stud

150,000

Donald McCain/Sunday Racing

2 c Teofilo - Fleeting Smile

Derrinstown Stud

135,000

Boherguy Stud

C Night Of Thunder – Afdhaad

Shadwell Estate Co./Baroda Stud

125,000

Abbeylands Farm

Recife 7 m Giant’s Causeway – Rietondale

Baroda Stud

110,000

Rathbran House Stud

Belonging 12 m Raven’s Pass – Desired

Godolphin

90,000

BBA Ireland

Bridal Knot 5 m Walk In The Park - Knotted Midge

Seven Barrows Ltd

90,000

Seamus Byrne

Figures Year

Sold

Aggregate (€)

Average (€)

Median (€)

Top price (€)

2022

352

6,020,200

17,103

9,000

150,000

2021

117

1,585,700

13,553

8,000

100,000

2020

293

4,078,700

13,920

6,500

220,000

2019

263

3,972,650

15,105

8,000

120,000

2018

333

4,806,000

14,432

6,800

280,000

56

THE OWNER BREEDER

››

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22/02/2022 09:36

Sales Circuit Arqana February Mixed Sale

February may not be thought of as a key month in the bloodstock calendar year, but if the right horses are available it can punch above its weight.

Europe’s annual round of February sales was completed with this event, and it followed others held earlier in the month by producing some improved figures and notable transactions. Comparisons with the 2021 sale are acceptable in this instance, for last year’s event was held in more-or-less standard format, albeit buyers had to pre-register to attend, and there were gains across the board.

It was pleasing for Arqana that the latest edition surged on again, with a 54% rise in average to €14,981 and a 20% increase in the median price to €6,000.

An additional 51 horses went under the hammer, helping turnover rise 36% to over €4.1 million, yet the bigger catalogue did not prove too much for buyers and the clearance rate of 80% was very satisfactory. Of 374 horses on offer over the two days, 300 found a new home.

Ten-year-old mare Osaila proved the sale’s most desirable asset when selling for €200,000 to bloodstock agent Arthur Hoyeau, who said she would be mated with Coolmore’s St Mark’s Basilica, a clue perhaps to the identity of her new owners.

An early cover is an option for Osaila, who was not in foal, but who has produced one winner and has other foals on the ground. She herself was a double Group 3 winner while in training with Richard Hannon, and she was also placed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf.

Osaila was not the only mare from Haras de Bouquetot who caused a splash.

Crystal Reef may have been 17, but she was knocked down for €130,000 to

Nell Gwyn Stakes winner Osaila is likely to visit St Mark’s Basilica after selling for €200,000

Chauvigny Global Equine’s Sebastien Desmontils. A daughter of King’s Best with an inviting foal by Doctor Dino in utero, Crystal Reef has foaled black-type winners and could boast of being a half-sister to Jump sires Martaline, Coastal Path and Reefscape, so she had plenty of appeal for the partnership which Desmontils was planning.

Yeomanstown Stud picked up seven-year-old Dubawi mare Zomara – with a Persian King cover – for €140,000 through Alain Decrion, while Paul Harley and David Redvers were other buyers of choice mares. Harley spent €120,000 for Mahabba while Redvers had a Zoustar mating in mind for Helcia, a daughter of dual Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Mizdirection bought for €115,000.

Among horses in training the pick on price was Be A Nice Girl, who will race on from the stable of Pierre Fertillet but for new owners after selling to Marco Bozzi for €120,000. Once-raced, Be A Nice Girl has a very good jumping pedigree and a win would do her paddock value no harm.

With the Cheltenham Festival looming the sale of Tikinik took on added meaning for she was a full-sister to Paul Nicholls’ unbeaten novice chaser Bravmansgame, a leading candidate for honours at the famous meeting. His unraced sister, who walked the ring carrying to Kingfisher, was sold for €62,000 to agent Richard Venn representing Future Bloodstock, a partnership which includes Will Kinsey and Ross Alberto of online auction house Thoroughbid.

Arqana February Mixed Sale Top lots Name/age/sex/breeding

Vendor

Price (€)

Buyer

Osaila 10 m Danehill Dancer – Mennetou

Haras de Bouquetot

200,000

Arthur Hoyeau

Zomara 7 m Dubawi – Merville

Channel Consignment

140,000

Alain Decrion

Crystal Reef 17 m King’s Best – Coraline

Haras de Bouquetot

130,000

Chauvigny Global

Be A Nice Girl 4 f Bathyron – Turgotine

Pierre Fertillet

120,000

Marco Bozzi

Mahabba 8 m Galileo – Bewitched

Haras de Bouquetot

120,000

Paul Harley

Figures Year

Sold

Aggregate (€)

Average (€)

Median (€)

Top price (€)

2022

304

4,173,300

13,847

6,000

200,000

2021

261

3,028,000

11,602

5,500

250,000

2020

247

2,432,300

9,754

4,000

135,000

58

THE OWNER BREEDER

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23/02/2022 13:12

Can better bedding give them a better start in life?

Six out of the 10 most expensive yearlings ever sold at Tattersalls failed to win any race at all. Of all Northern Dancer’s progeny, over 75% likewise failed to record a win – not even in a selling plate at Redcar. So what happened between the foaling box and the racecourse to all those brilliantly bred young thoroughbreds?

For most owner-breeders, the financial investment in producing potential winners is a fraction of the cost incurred in breeding those highflyers. But every owner does everything within their power to give their young stock the very best chance of success in the sale ring, in training and on the racecourse. The risks are endless, and most of them are obvious, but there may be one key risk to a young horse’s health, wellbeing and future performance that goes unseen and unnoticed – floating in the air in the would-be racehorse’s stable.

Respiratory health starts in the stable From a very early age, young thoroughbreds destined for racing spend a very large proportion of their time in the confines of their stables, and if the air in their stables contains high levels of breathable dust, it is more than possible that they will be subject to the first, invisible damage that will compromise their respiratory health and their ability to perform to their full potential.

Dr Emmanuelle van Erck is a leading equine veterinary consultant called in to treat high performance horses all over Europe, whose own vets are baffled by lacklustre performance.

“I deal mostly with high level competition horses including racehorses, and over 80% of the hundreds of horses I see are suffering from respiratory problems. These problems are usually not allergic or ‘asthmatic’ but can be caused by microscopic dust inhaled deep into the lower airways. It’s hard to detect, but even very small compromises in a horse’s respiratory system will have significant effects in oxygen depletion.”

The symptoms of more severe respiratory disease are more often recognised in older horses, but Dr van Erck suggests that many older horses are suffering the worsening effects of dust and spores inhaled throughout their lifetime. In other words, it can start at the earliest age, and it starts in the stable.

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23/02/2022 13:21

Caulfield Files

Gone but not forgotten: Dansili leaves a mighty legacy L

62

THE OWNER BREEDER

Dansili: sire of 151 black-type winners as well as several successful stallion sons

JUDDMONTE

ittle did I know, when I was asked

by Philip Mitchell to give some last-minute help with the Juddmonte matings for 1995, that this association would eventually span 27 years. I also wasn’t to know that Dansili, a member of the following year’s foal crop, was to become a fellow traveller throughout my Juddmonte journey.

While it was very sad to hear that Dansili had died just weeks short of his 26th birthday, any sadness was offset by the knowledge that his life had been very well lived. Although he had been pensioned after failing to get any mares in foal in 2018, he was credited with siring 1,553 foals, of which a magnificent 151 – 10% – became black-type winners.

More than 300 of those 1,553 were bred

by Juddmonte and when Acanella sprang a surprise in the Group 3 Snow Fairy Stakes at the Curragh last August, she became the 34th of Dansili’s homebred progeny to become a Group or Graded winner (that includes several, such as the durable So Beloved, which achieved that rank after being sold by Juddmonte).

Altogether some 47 of Juddmonte’s Dansili foals became black-type winners, representing virtually 15 per cent of the operation’s 300-plus named foals. The 34 Group/Graded winners comprise ten Group/Grade 1 winners, ten Group/Grade 2 winners and 14 Group/Grade 3 winners.

In other words, Prince Khalid was handsomely rewarded for his decision to stand Dansili, even though the status of Group 1 winner had eluded the colt during a thorough testing against the best milers of his era.

After winning his first two starts impressively, Dansili was asked by Andre Fabre to tackle 12 consecutive Group races and the son of Danehill reached the first four in all but one of them, recording three Group wins, four seconds (three at Group 1 level) and three Group 1 thirds. Although it is fair to say that Dansili acted on any going – he even won on heavy on his debut – I always wondered whether his career would have been even more rewarding had he been able to compete only when the ground was good or faster.

Dansili was capable of excellent acceleration when ground conditions

were in his favour, as he showed when he ran Giant’s Causeway to less than a length in the Sussex Stakes. The fastest conditions he encountered were at Churchill Downs, when he produced a sensational stretch run to all but win the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Having been 13th of 14 with only a quarter of a mile left to run, he finished so fast that he was beaten only a neck and a nose.

The ground was also on the fast side when Dansili quickened at least three lengths clear of the remainder when second of 15 in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains. Similarly, his sire Danehill had relished firm ground when he landed Royal Ascot’s Cork And Orrery Stakes by three lengths.

This partiality for fast conditions may also have been relevant to the considerable success enjoyed by the progeny of Danehill and Dansili in North America.

Dansili exhibited enough quality as a youngster for his dam, the two-year-old Listed winner Hasili, to become a regular visitor to Danehill. Her second visit to the Coolmore stallion resulted in Banks Hill, who secured an Eclipse Award with her impressive victory on firm ground in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. The partnership’s third foal, Intercontinental, won the same race four years later, defeating the outstanding Ouija Board to clinch the Eclipse Award for turf female, and she was also a seven-time Graded stakes winner on firm ground.

Cacique, born a year after Intercontinental, also thrived after his

transfer to Bobby Frankel, turning in a string of fine efforts at Grade 1 level, notably winning both the Man o’War Stakes and Manhattan Handicap as a five-year-old. Champs Elysees, the last of Hasili’s five Danehill foals, maintained the blue hen’s record, collecting a total of three Group/Grade 1 victories in North America, including two on firm ground.

It’s hardly surprising, then, that Dansili’s progeny have proved very much at home on America’s fast turf courses. He is credited with having had 87 representatives in the US, with as many as 19 of them – 21.8% – tasting black-type success, including 14 Graded stakes winners. Two of them – Dank and Queen’s Trust – maintained something of a family tradition with their victories in the 2013 and 2016 editions of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Another of Dansili’s best daughters, The Fugue, sidestepped Dank’s race to take on the males in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, only to find Magician just too good.

Of Dansili’s other daughters, the ex-French Proviso became a quadruple Grade 1 winner, while Laughing, Juliet Foxtrot, Price Tag and Blowout also became Grade 1 winners in the United States, even though Juliet Foxtrot had an official rating of only 87 for Juddmonte in Britain.

It wasn’t just Dansili’s daughters that adapted well to the American style of racing. After two seconds in the Arc, the much-travelled Flintshire was transferred to Chad Brown as a six-year-old in 2016. A Group 1 winner in

France and Hong Kong, Flintshire had already made a flying visit to Saratoga in 2015, when he landed the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes in fine style. Two more Grade 1 successes quickly followed and even two unexpected defeats, which seemed to owe plenty to jockey error, weren’t enough to deny him the Eclipse Award for Turf Male.

Juddmonte also did well in 2021 with Dansili’s ex-English gelding Set Piece, who became a Grade 2 winner.

When a stallion has as many as 16 fillies among his 24 Group/Grade 1 winners, as Dansili did, it is only reasonable to have high expectations of him as a sire of broodmares. His daughters have already produced nearly 100 black-type winners and again the US has played her part in this success story.

That tough filly Uni was foaled in Britain after being in utero when her dam Unaided was bought for $230,000 in 2013, but was returned to the US after becoming a Listed winner in France. The More Than Ready filly progressed so well that she numbered the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Mile among her four Grade 1 wins and she was sold for $4.1 million. Remarkably, Unaided wasn’t the first daughter of Dansili to produce a Breeders’ Cup Mile winner, as Exemplify’s son Expert Eye had taken the same race in 2018. There has also been Breeders’ Cup success for Twilight Gleaming, the 2021 Juvenile Turf Sprint winner. It is worth adding that only one of these three important American winners is out of a winning dam.

The ultra tough Magic Wand (out of Dansili’s Listed-winning daughter Prudenzia) also collected plenty of dollars on her American excursions, but it was in Australia that this daughter of Galileo collected her only Group 1 success, in the valuable Mackinnon Stakes.

There have also been several Graded stakes winners, including the Group 1 winner Danon The Kid, out of Dansili mares in Japan, where the emphasis is so often on firm ground.

The European Group 1 winners out of Dansili’s daughters include Classic winners Chicquita, Channel and Galileo Chrome, as well as Dream Of Dreams, Astaire, Aspetar, Nezwaah and Ice Breeze. Others worth a mention include Snow Sky, Glorious Journey, Time Test and Lope Y Fernandez – the last two now attracting attention at the National Stud in Newmarket.

Dansili has also enjoyed worldwide success as a sire of sires, with eight of

GEORGE SELWYN

Bloodstock world views

Deirdre: sired by Dansili’s son Harbinger

his sons – Harbinger, Zoffany, Rail Link, Remote (in Argentina), Strategic Prince, Zacinto (in New Zealand), Delegator and Bated Breath – having a Group or Grade 1 winner to their credit. The most prolific of these has been the Shadai-based Harbinger, with the Nassau Stakes winner Deirdre featuring among the five Group 1 winners by this runaway winner of the King George. Next in line is Zoffany, whose legacy includes the 1,000 Guineas winner Mother Earth and the Group 1-winning juveniles Albigna and Thunder Moon.

Bated Breath has been doing his best to step into his sire’s shoes at Banstead Manor. Like his sire before him, he was

“Dansili’s progeny have proved at home on America’s turf courses” unfortunate not to have a Group 1 success to his credit by the time he retired. Second four times at the highest level, Bated Breath missed the Group 1 target by margins of a nose, a neck, half a length and three-quarters of a length.

The neck defeat came on his only North American appearance, in the 2011 Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine in Canada.

Fortunately, several of his progeny have thrived in the States, with no fewer than nine of his 25 American runners becoming black-type winners. And, as with Dansili, it has largely been Bated Breath’s daughters that have been making their mark, with all four of his American Graded winners being fillies or mares. The ex-Irish Viadera numbered the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes among her three Graded victories, while Gift List, Simply Breathless and Tezzaray all became Graded winners after beginning

their careers in Britain.

Bated Breath’s smart daughter Daahyeh also performed with credit on a visit to the States, finishing second of 14 in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and his son Space Traveller has also been stacking up the dollars, thanks to a second place in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile and third place in the Pegasus World Cup Turf.

Dansili’s Group 1-winning brothers have also got into the act on the American continent. Despite being subfertile, Cacique had three Group 1 winners among his 154 foals, including Slumber. Sold by Juddmonte for $200,000 in November 2014 after some very useful efforts, Slumber proceeded to earn more than $1 million in 2015, notably emulating his sire’s success in the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes.

Retired to stud as a nine-year-old, Slumber seemed an unlikely candidate for stallion success, especially as he is credited with only 18 named foals in his first crop and three in his second.

However, his first runners include Fluffy Socks, a Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner on turf.

Champs Elysees, who ended his days covering large numbers of National Hunt mares, passed on his penchant for American turf to several of his progeny, mainly daughters. From 19 runners in the US, he was represented by the Grade 3 turf winners Renown, Suffused, Colonia and Elysea’s World, In these days of growing emphasis on turf racing in the US, a decision was made to stand Dansili’s highest-earning son, Flintshire, in Kentucky. The fact that he has now been transferred to France after just five seasons suggests that the strategy wasn’t a success – especially when he covered only 38 mares in 2020 and a mere eight in 2021.

However, he has been represented by the smart French colt Cheshire Academy and his second crop contains Verbal. A four-length debut winner on firm turf at Belmont Park in October, Verbal then transferred to Del Mar, where he finished in fine style to take the Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes, again on firm going.

Bred and owned by Juddmonte, Verbal is yet another reminder of how much this first-rate operation owes to Dansili, as is Sacred Bridge, another of Juddmonte’s best two-year-olds of 2021.

This daughter of Bated Breath did so well in winning her first four starts that she started favourite for the Cheveley Park Stakes. Perhaps one day she will follow her Grade 1-winning sister Viadera to the States.

THE OWNER BREEDER

63

Dr Statz

John Boyce cracks the code

Recent results underlining value of breeze-up sales

P

erhaps the most significant aspect of all of last year’s bloodstock auctions was the milestone achieved by horses bought at the breeze-up sales.

Never before in the history of the sport had the winners of both the Dewhurst Stakes and Middle Park Stakes come from a two-year-old in training sale.

Time will tell if either the Dewhurst winner Native Trail, who also won the National Stakes, or Middle Park hero Perfect Power will train on to become two of the better graduates of these historic races. In the past 50 years we have had the double completed by such luminaries as Mill Reef and Brigadier Gerard in 1970, Frankel and Dream Ahead in 2010 and more recently by Too Darn Hot and Ten Sovereigns in 2018, followed by Pinatubo and Earthlight the following year. And the two colts, Diesis and US Navy Flag, who won both races were not too bad either.

So, it’s a hugely significant moment for this sales medium and it proves beyond all doubt that top-class racehorses are available to be bought at these sales.

In Native Trail, the breeze-ups could scarcely want for a better poster boy, both in terms of his record – undefeated in four races – and looks – he was one of the most imposing thoroughbreds seen on a racecourse last year.

But Native Trail and Perfect Power

were not the only good juveniles sourced at the two-year-old sales last year. As things stand there have been 27 stakes horses from the 2021 European sales so far, also featuring Group 2 winners Go Bears Go, Asymmetric and Malavath, all of whom were also Group 1-placed.

The 27 stakes horses cost an average of just £131,000, which is a bargain when compared to the level of investment required to find stakes horses at the main yearling sales. The stakes horses sold at Book 1 of the 2020 Tattersalls October Sale averaged £269,850 from 23 sold, while the 17 sold at the Arqana August Sale set their buyers back by an average of £184,000 – so it’s not hard to discern that there is plenty of value available at the breeze-up sales these days.

Take a look at the two accompanying lists of 2021 juveniles sourced by their current owners as either yearlings or two-year-olds: there’s virtually no difference in quality at the top end of the spectrum, while the costs are significantly lower among the breeze-up group.

But what are your real chances of finding a stakes winner at the breeze-ups compared to the yearling sales? At Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Sale, your probability of finding a stakes winner is around one in 12, judging by the graduates from 2010 to 2019 and they cost an

2021 2YO BREEZE-UP GRADUATES RANKED BY TIMEFORM RATING

TFR

Name

Form

Price

Sale

average of £329,271. At October Book 2, that probability declines to one in 23 at an average price of £85,469.

At the Craven Breeze-Up in the same period, one in 15 has managed to win a stakes race at an average price of just £171,363. Moreover, the success of the most recent renewal of the Craven Sale already shows a success rate of one in 40 stakes winners and that with just one racing season under their belts: that means it will take only five more stakes winners – which is achievable – to better the return of Tattersalls’ premier yearling sale. There are already three more obvious candidates to become stakes winners as Cachet, Gis A Sub and Oneforthegutter are Group-placed.

Native Trail is a perfect case study to underline the benefits of two-year-old sales as he was also offered for sale as a weanling and as a yearling, yet failed to excite the big battalions at those sales. By all accounts it was his size and immaturity that persuaded his current owners to bypass him as a yearling but, once he showed what he could do up the Rowley Mile, they liked what they saw and paid 210,000gns. As a champion two-year-old

by Oasis Dream from a good Juddmonte family, he’s going to be a gift that keeps on giving to Godolphin and to its stallion division whatever happens this spring.

2021 2YO YEARLING GRADUATES RANKED BY TIMEFORM RATING

TFR

Name

Form

Price

Sale

118

LUXEMBOURG

G1w

£157,500

TAOC1

114

ANGEL BLEU

G1w

£109,053

ARAU1

114

POINT LONSDALE

G2wG1p

£603,750

TAOC1

122

NATIVE TRAIL

G1w

£220,500

TACR

114

PERFECT POWER

G1w

£110,000

DNAPR

111

GO BEARS GO

G2wG1p

£157,500

TACR

113

BAYSIDE BOY

G2wG1p

£210,000

TAOC2

110

TWILIGHT JET

G3wG2p

£210,000

DNAPR

113

EBRO RIVER

G1w

£78,750

TAOC2

112

LUSAIL

G2w

£168,000

TAOC2

112

NOBLE TRUTH

LRwG1p

£999,653

ARAU1

112

ATOMIC FORCE

G2w

£22,000

GOOY2

109

LIGHT INFANTRY

G3w

£82,000

DNAPR

108

ASYMMETRIC

G2wG1p

£157,500

TACR

105

MALAVATH

G2wG1p

£120,000

ARMAY

111

FLOTUS

LRwG1p

£131,250

TAOC1

TAGUN

111

SEA BAY

G3w

£138,229

BBAGS

111

EL BODEGON

G1w

£73,500

TAOC2

111

Sissoko

WG1p

£68,250

TAOC2

111

ARMOR

G3wG1p

£49,797

AROCT

105

Hierarchy

WG2p

£110,250

104

Gis a Sub

WG2p

£147,000

TACR

104

Cachet

WG1p

£63,000

TACR

104

Witch Hunter

LRp

£125,000

ARMAY

110

CATURRA

G2w

£115,500

TAOC2

TACR

110

Dr Zempf

WG1p

£441,000

TAOC1

110

ROYAL PATRONAGE

G2w

£65,100

TAOC1

110

FLAMING RIB

LRw

£36,750

TAOC2

109

Imperial Fighter

WG3p

£30,000

GOOY1

102

Oneforthegutter

WG3p

£115,500

101

Dhabab

WG2p

£200,000

DNAPR

100

Super King

WLRp

£100,000

TIBUP

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WELL BRED, TOUGH & CONSISTENT STAKES WINNER

GR.1 SIRE OF CHAMPION STAYER TRUESHAN

HIGH-CLASS STAYER

BY MONTJEU

WON/PLACED IN 8 STAKES RACES

STAKES PRODUCER ON THE FLAT AND OVER HURDLES New dual Gr.1 winner Trueshan and new Gr.2 winner Road To Arc in 2021.

WON/PLACED IN 5 STAKES RACES

OUTSTANDING PEDIGREE Half-brother to 4 Stakes horses descending from the legendary Fall Aspen.

“Bangkok has the ability, looks and temperament to be a top-class performer at stud. He has courage and a constitution second to none.”

Andrew Balding, trainer

NEW SIRE IN 2022 Fee: £3,000 1st October FFR

57% WINNERS TO RUNNERS HIGHEST EARNING SON OF DANEHILL DANCER Gr.1 winner and won/placed in 12 Stakes races.

PATERNAL HALF-BROTHER TO THE LATE JEREMY, A LEADING NH SIRE Fee: £4,000 1st October FFR

BY A LEADING NH INFLUENCE IN MONTJEU Plus a half-brother to 4 Group horses including German Derby winner Wiener Walzer, sire of Grade 1 winner Adagio.

“Walzertakt is a very interesting addition to the GB NH stallion ranks bred on the same cross as Camelot.”

Richard Venn, bloodstock agent

NEW SIRE TO GB IN 2022 Fee: £2,500 1st October FFR

Concessions available

PLANTEUR BANGKOK WALZERTAKT HELLVELYN INDIAN HAVEN

Chapel Stud Ltd Chapel Lane, Bransford, Worcestershire WR6 5JQ 01452 717 342 chapelstud.co.uk

Roisin Close 07738 279 071 roisin@ chapelstud.co.uk

Tina Dawson 07776 165854 tina.dawson@ tdbloodstock.com

ROA Forum

ENJOY AINTREE IN STYLE

The special section for ROA members

Clan Des Obeaux struck in the Grade 1 Betway Bowl on the opening day of Aintree’s National meeting in 2021

Festival Zone

Aintree is again repeating its generous offer to allow ROA members free admission to the Festival Zone on the

BILL SELWYN

T

he ROA has an exclusive facility at Aintree on the opening day of the Randox Grand National festival.

Following the success of previous arrangements at Aintree, the ROA is delighted to offer a discounted package to our owners and guests on Thursday, April 7 in the Hospitality Pavilion.

This exclusive package includes: • Premier Course admission • Private balcony overlooking the world famous Grand National start line and iconic course • Three-course buffet lunch • Afternoon tea • Cash bar • Complimentary racecard • Complimentary car-parking • Tote betting facility • A course walk with a top jockey before racing* The cost to our owners is £250 per person. To book, please visit roa.co.uk/ events or call 01183 385680. *The course walk will take in the full distance of the track, covering the whole two miles. Places on the course walk will be limited and are available on a first come, first served basis. Details will be emailed to early bookers. Dress code in the facility is smart – strictly no jeans or trainers allowed.

first day, Thursday, April 7, of the threeday Randox Grand National festival.

This is always a popular offer on the opening day of the meeting.

ROA members can enjoy admission by booking directly through the members’ area of the website and will be able to purchase a ticket at face value for accompanying guests on the day, subject to availability.

Please note: this offer is only redeemable with access through the

Owners & Trainers Entrance Reception and cannot be linked to the hospitality offer above.

Aintree parking labels

ROA members are also able to reserve a car-parking label for the owners’ and trainers’ car park at Aintree on Thursday, April 7.

Please book directly via the members’ area https://www.roa.co.uk/login.html or email info@roa.co.uk by March 18.

Jessica Bethell Charitable Foundation Dinner The tenth anniversary of the Jessica Bethell Charitable Foundation Dinner will take place on Tuesday, May 10 at York racecourse.

Guest speaker on the evening is Professor Andrew Pollard. Sir Andrew is Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford. He received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2021 for services to public health, especially in the pandemic.

He was the chief investigator for the clinical trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in 2020, which led to the authorisation of the vaccine for use in more than 175

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countries with over two billion doses distributed by the end of 2021.

The evening will again be raising money for meningitis research following a recent project with Professor Pollard.

An update will also be provided on the Racing Welfare House in Middleham.

Tickets are available at £100 per person. Tickets and tables can be booked by emailing Hannah at bethellracing. co.uk or for further information call 07407 295905.

If you are unable to attend the dinner and you would like to donate to the foundation please click on jessicabethellfoundation.co.uk/donate/.

New contact details:

www.roa.co.uk • 01183 385680 • info@roa.co.uk @racehorseowners

RacehorseOwnersUK

Racehorseownersassociation

Cheltenham countdown All roads lead to the Cheltenham Festival as the pinnacle of the jump racing season. Whether or not you will be there this year, the ROA Festival hub at Roa.co.uk/Cheltenham22 includes a wealth of resources to help you enjoy the run-up to the event and the four outstanding days, March 15-18.

If you fancy winning £100 in tote bet credits, don’t forget to take part in our free-to-enter daily Festival tipping competition. The competition is open to members attending the ROA marquee on each of the four days.

Cheltenham racecourse stages a preview night on Sunday, March 13 hosted by Oli Bell. Events will get under way in The Centaur at 6pm. All proceeds raised on the evening will be donated to the Festival’s charity partner, WellChild.

The Festival preview night at Cheltenham is on Sunday, March 13

calling the membership team on 01242 513 014. A bar will be in operation where drinks may be purchased.

Please note that Cheltenham racecourse continues to operate on a ‘cashless’ basis, including concessions.

However, cash may be used when placing bets with all on-course bookmakers.

A listing of all Cheltenham Festival preview evenings can be found at the ROA Festival hub.

Tickets are £10, or free for Cheltenham members. The event includes a new VIP hospitality option supported by Daylesford. VIP access is £40 per person (£400 for a table of ten). Enjoy a luxurious cheese and charcuterie platter with a welcome drink on arrival and seating at the front of the theatre. Call the hospitality team on 01242 806 570 to book.

Cheltenham annual members can apply for their complimentary ticket by

All syndicates registered on or after May 1 last year must ensure they comply with the BHA’s Code of Conduct. All syndicates registered prior to this date must ensure they are in compliance with the previous Code of Conduct, and that their contracts are updated to reflect this new code no later than April 30.

In promoting their ownership, it is important that syndicators and club managers accurately and clearly portray their offering to prospective members.

This can mean several things in practice, including ensuring that the syndicate or racing club terms and conditions cover all that is required by the BHA’s Codes of Conduct, they are transparent, written in plain language, and are easily accessible to any prospective member so an informed decision can be made as to whether they wish to proceed with any purchase.

In addition, any advertising linked with a syndicate or racing club must also be aligned with the terms outlined in the respective Codes of Conduct and the BHA’s ownership definitions.

To elaborate, under no circumstances should involvement in a syndicate or racing club be advertised as an

Syndicates: one of the best ways to encourage more people into ownership

investment and, depending on the structure of the entity, certain language should be used in any promotion.

For example, the BHA defines a racing club as an entertainment associated with racehorses, where the members acquire no ownership rights to, or lease an interest in, any racehorses. Considering this, promotion must not portray racing club membership as bestowing ownership, part-ownership or leased ownership on any individual – use of the words ‘owner’ or ‘ownership’ should be avoided.

Racing clubs should be promoted based on the benefits afforded to

XXXXXX

Shared ownership regulation update members and what their subscription fee grants, such as regular updates from the trainer, days at the yard, the chance to watch the club’s horse(s) in action as well as potentially receiving a split of any prize-money won.

It is important to remember that even if prize-money won by the racing club’s horse(s) may be shared amongst members, the sale of a membership should not be described as purchasing a ‘share in a horse’. The term ‘share’ implies the member is securing ownership of, or a legal leasehold interest in, a racehorse and should, therefore, not be used when promoting a racing club.

With regard to syndicates, the BHA defines them as a form of shared ownership where the syndicate members own, or lease, an interest in racehorses. As such, the member is purchasing a share in a horse and any promotion should be aligned with that.

It is important, though, that any advert details what type of share the member is buying, i.e. are they purchasing a leasehold share for a defined period of time or, as is more common, does their interest include the bloodstock too.

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ROA Forum

Whip consultation project progress The BHA board is due to consider the proposals in April

The British Horseracing Authority provided an update last month regarding the progress of the project to consult on, and review, the use of the whip in British horseracing.

The initial consultation period ran from July to September, followed by a period of focus groups and detailed discussions with relevant bodies, which ran into the autumn.

The Whip Consultation Steering Group – the body which was formed to assess the responses to the consultation and propose any recommendations that may go before the BHA board – are currently in the process of assessment and discussion around possible recommendations based on this consultation process.

The steering group contains

representation and expertise from across the racing industry and wider sectors including politics, horse welfare and the media.

This stage of the process was scheduled to be concluded in winter, which still remains the objective.

However, logistical issues caused by Covid and the impact on the schedules of this wide range of individuals mean that it is likely to be the closing stages of winter by the time this group forms its final recommendations.

Following the formation of these recommendations, they will then be taken out to be discussed with a selection of relevant individuals and bodies, before being finalised and presented to the BHA board.

In order for these processes to be allocated the appropriate time – over what is traditionally one of racing’s busiest periods in the spring – the proposals will now be scheduled to be considered by the BHA board in April, rather than in February as was initially proposed.

Following board consideration there will be a period during which any adjustments proposed by the board can be considered, and the report finalised. Should there be no issues which cause the project to be delayed this would then allow the full report and recommendations to be published in May. There would then be a significant period to allow for training, education and bedding-in before any new rules came into effect, which it is anticipated would be in the autumn.

More information about the Whip Consultation Steering Group and the BHA team responsible for running the consultation process can be found at britishhorseracing.com.

RACING TOGETHER COMMUNITY DAY The fourth Racing Together Community Day will be held on Thursday, May 5 and will be themed around the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The last Racing Together Community Day took place in 2019 when more than 250 people from the industry volunteered in excess of 1,500 hours.

John Blake, CEO of Racing Together, said: “We are excited to relaunch Racing Together Community

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Day for Thursday, May 5 following a challenging two years for the sport and wider society.

“We know during this time that racing organisations did not forget about their communities and in many cases even more was done to help alleviate local needs, open up resources and venues and to support the most vulnerable affected by the pandemic.

“Racing’s national day of volunteering is another opportunity

for teams to come together again and support causes within the communities where racing operates, and of course to combine this with Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

“We look forward to supporting and showcasing racing people’s creative and enthusiastic response to this call to action.”

To find out more see racingtogether.co.uk or contact lucy@racingtogether.co.uk.

Member discount on BHA fees ROA members receive a 20% discount on many BHA registration fees. This works out as an average saving of £85 per member.

If you are a sole owner, the discount will be applied to all relevant fees. If you are involved in a club or a syndicate then the majority of the club/syndicate managers will need to be members of the ROA in order for the discounts to be applied.

If you are involved in a partnership then the discount is applied according to how the charges to the partnership are managed:

When fees are charged to a partnership account

In this case then the relevant proportion of the discount is applied based on the number of owners who are ROA members: If the fee is a horse-specific one e.g. naming, then this is done based on the percentage of the horse owned by ROA members. For example, if 75% of the horse is owned by ROA members then 75% of the discount will be applied.

If the fee is non horsespecific e.g. registration of colours, then this is done on the number of partners who are ROA members. For example, if two out of the three partners are ROA members, then 66% of the discount will be applied, regardless of the actual ownership percentages.

Please note that an Authority to Act is registered to an individual and not an ownership entity and therefore this discount will be applied only if the applicant is an ROA member.

When fees are split between individual partners In this case the discount is applied only to those partners who are ROA members, for whatever percentage of the fee they are paying.

For more information, please email info@roa.co.uk.

Emperor Of The Sun wins the 2021 Saval Beg Stakes, now upgraded to Group 3 level

European Pattern changes The European Pattern Committee (EPC) has approved a limited number of changes to the 2022 European Flat racing programme. The committee sanctioned a total of 851 black-type races (854 in 2021) to be held in Europe in 2022, comprising 425 Group races (427 in 2021) and 426 Listed races (427 in 2021).

Departure and new appointees

The EPC’s January meeting was the last to be chaired by Brian Kavanagh, who had chaired the EPC since 2005 before stepping down at the end of January. The Member Countries of the EPC unanimously agreed that Jason Morris, Director of Racing at Horse Racing Ireland, be appointed as Chair of the EPC with immediate effect for a term of five years. The EPC thanked Kavanagh for his excellent leadership during his tenure as Chair, and for dedicating so much time and passion to the responsibility.

The EPC has agreed to nominate Dominic Gardiner-Hill, Head of Handicapping for the BHA, Garry O’Gorman and Eric Le Guen, senior handicappers in Ireland and France respectively, as the European nominees to the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee.

The committee has agreed to undertake a full review of the progress made on developing and enhancing the black-type programme for the staying horse at its next

meeting, to be held during the summer of 2022.

Finally, the EPC also agreed new measures to aid the emerging racing nations in the European and Mediterranean Horseracing Federation, including the chance to stage a Listed race, providing the race in question meets an agreed set of criteria.

Upgrades, downgrades and additions

In Ireland, two races have been upgraded: the Listed Silken Glider Stakes, a mile race for two-year-old fillies at the Curragh in October has been upgraded to Group 3, as has the Listed Saval Beg Stakes over 14 furlongs at Leopardstown in May. Meanwhile, the Group 3 Vintage Crop Stakes, staged at Navan in April, has been downgraded voluntarily with a view to creating a better sequence for Ireland’s two early season black-type races for staying horses. Ireland will also stage a new Listed race for fillies aged three years and older over six furlongs at the Curragh in October.

Across Europe, a total of five Pattern races have been downgraded in 2022, with a further four Listed races losing that status. A total of 41 Pattern and Listed races will be at risk of potential downgrade in 2023, depending on their performance in 2022.

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ROA Forum

MAGICAL MOMENTS

Andy Riley is thrilled to see his colours coming home in front

N

ext time the ROA is putting together a compilation of jubilant members advancing the cause of racehorse ownership, Andy Riley’s interview on Sky Sports Racing after Manintheshadows had won at Doncaster is almost certain to feature.

Off the cuff but genuine, the thrill of standing in the winner’s enclosure and pride in your horse having carried your silks to victory warmed the heart on a chilly Tuesday afternoon in Yorkshire.

January’s victory was the career highlight at the time of writing for sevenyear-old Manintheshadows, previously a winner at Worcester this season, who is giving his owner and family and friends plenty of enjoyment.

Asked to explain his interest in racing and background, Riley replies: “I grew up in Essex and my earliest memories involve my grandad sat in front of the TV all day: Saturday, pipe in one hand and his yellow betting slips in the other watching the racing.

“Then at university in Eastbourne I lived with a group of lads that really loved their racing. They taught me everything about betting, reading the form, and as Plumpton racecourse was local, we often spent our afternoons inside the Tote hut there, deciding how to wisely invest our student grants.

“The time spent watching the racing versus going to lectures probably led to the degree result I got, much to my parents’ disappointment! However, I gained a love for the sport that has never left me.

“Plumpton was great, in the fact that you could really get close to the fences, and seeing these wonderful animals with jockeys driving them forward was simply stunning. Moving into business, I always had staff racing days, and hospitality always seemed to involve a racecourse!”

Riley’s exposure to the thrills and spills of racing through the East Sussex course is a reminder that for every convert via the likes of Royal Ascot, the Grand National and Cheltenham Festival, there are also the important foundations for a lifetime’s love laid by small tracks right around the nation.

Manintheshadows is trained at Jackdaws Castle by Jonjo O’Neill, and

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Andy Riley’s Manintheshadows strikes at Worcester in September under conditional jockey Caoilin Quinn

Riley explains: “A good friend of mine and horse owner, Richard Evans, invited me to Cheltenham one year, which involved a visit to Jonjo O’Neill’s stable in the morning.

“As a horse lover, this could not be missed. It was there that I found out that owning a racehorse could be an option.

Key points for me were that should things go wrong there were ways to walk away, the prices were not outrageous – or, indeed, at a level I imagined – and Jackdaws Castle, where Jonjo trains, was simply stunning.

“It quickly became apparent that owning a horse would be potentially good for business, from a hospitality perspective, but also allow me to fulfil a dream. I was impressed by the staff at Jonjo’s – and who couldn’t be impressed by the boss – and I liked the way they sold the experience rather than giving a

false promise that your horse would be a superstar.

“The team there, including Jonjo himself, always make themselves available as they take you on the gallops and, believe me, seeing your horse galloping along at 30mph whilst you’re next to it in a Range Rover is unbelievable. The fact that they’re quick to get out the champagne also helps…”

As every owner knows, champagne, or whatever your tipple, sometimes has to drown sorrows, rather than mark a celebration, and for Riley that realisation is part and parcel of being a good trainer, as well as a realistic owner.

He says: “I think being a trainer is not about managing horses, I would think that’s the easy bit; it’s the managing of owner expectations that must be the challenge. I have tried to be a patient owner, never really thinking that the

News in brief The National Stud Evening Lecture Programme horse could come first, but always believing.

“In terms of magical moments, the first time Manintheshadows ran was a highlight. My heart was beating through my chest, secretly hoping that the horse was going to show he was the next Tiger Roll whilst the brain was just hoping that he would finish! However, a good fourth at Chepstow and the dream was still alive. Hey, we got in the winner’s enclosure!

“But the first time he actually won… him striding over the last hurdle with a chance, trying to understand what your eyes were seeing, not daring to believe he would just carry on running through to the winning post, finding yourself screaming whilst everyone

“I don’t pay the money each month for the win, I pay to be involved” was trying to work out why this Class 5 conditional jockeys’ race at Worcester was so important to someone… that was magical.

“It could have been a championship race at Cheltenham, Aintree, wherever, it didn’t matter; like all the winning horses that I had seen from my grandad’s house, through university, and all the ones that had finished before mine in previous races, mine had won, come first, watched and clapped by spectators. My baby had won. That’s magic. That’s why you try to pay the bills every month.”

Another thing every owner will know is that it can be hard to resist one racehorse becoming two, and after that who knows, but for all that Riley is living the dream, as a businessman his feet are still on the ground.

Does he envisage having another horse at some point?

“I certainly have the bug,” he answers.

“I would love more horses but, like everything, finance comes first and Covid has been difficult for us all in many different ways.

“It’s worth pointing out that Jonjo’s yard has been amazing over that time. Being patient with payments, understanding and making life easy, that was a major plus for me. It showed what I already knew, this is more than a business for me, and they respect who they work with, both equine and human.

“I run a number of online promotional websites and enjoy a bit of freedom to get around the country with my partner Joanne and my sons, either visiting Jackdaws Castle or going to the races.

“We have made the whole experience a family one, and Jonjo was right in what he said to me the first time I inquired about owning a horse – ‘we can’t guarantee it’s a winner, but we can guarantee you’ll have fun’.

“He was right - though having a glass of champagne in my hand probably did make it sound better…!”

Riley adds: “The best thing about being a racehorse owner is an easy question to answer – it’s being close to these amazing animals, feeding a carrot not only to your horse but giving horses such as Cheltenham winner Sky Pirate a pat, watching them run and marvelling at the skill and dedication of the jockeys and stable staff. Oh, and I have Jonjo O’Neill’s mobile number! Life achievement right there!

“I know I’m lucky. My horse has won twice now as we speak, nothing major, but he has always given me a run, a reason to be happy, but I know there is an element of luck in that. I know some owners get frustrated at a lack of progress, but I had no illusions. I don’t pay the money each month for the win, I pay to be involved.

“Still the best jockey comment I’ve had was the horse’s first time over hurdles, when Jonjo jnr explained he had to work hard to control the horse as he had wanted to run round the back of the first hurdle to go jump it again! I know I am lucky to be in the sport, and there is no greater feeling than being in the middle of the parade ring.”

The 2022 National Stud Evening Lecture Programme presented by Edmondson Hall is available to view online again this year with some new content.

The programme, which will be hosted via recorded video link, features lectures within eight categories: general horse health, breeding, digestive health, musculoskeletal and genetics, pedigree and sales, management, industry and performance.

The cost to complete the full programme is £360 per delegate or £20 per single lecture. Lectures can be purchased on The National Stud website, where the full programme is detailed: https://nationalstud. co.uk/education/evening-lectureprogramme.

There are two lectures per week and the link to view the lectures will be circulated on Wednesday and Friday afternoons with notes attached.

Each lecture lasts approximately one hour and the link will be available for 72 hours. For more information call 01638 663464 or email students@nationalstud.co.uk.

Punchestown marquee

In a reciprocal arrangement with the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners, members will be able to enjoy access to the AIRO marquee at the Punchestown Festival, April 2630. To avail themselves of this offer, members are asked to contact the ROA at info@roa.co.uk.

We are very grateful to the AIRO for welcoming members in their facility. This has been warmly welcomed by members who have enjoyed access in previous years.

UK runners in France

France Galop would like to draw attention to owners of UK runners in France to check the latest protocols.

Further information can be found on the French government’s website at interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-duMinistere/Certificate-of-internationaltravel. Trainers can contact the International Racing Bureau’s trainers’ services.

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ROA Forum

Chelmsford City’s prize-money boost Two races worth £100,000 will be staged at Chelmsford in 2022

GEORGE SELWYN

Chelmsford City racecourse has underlined its commitment to horsemen by boosting prize-money in 2022.

From last month the total prize fund for each of the Class 4 handicaps increased to £13,000. Class 5 races offer prize funds of £10,000, and Class 6 races will be run at £7,300, which represents an average increase in executive contributions of 80% on 2021.

Class 2 and 3 races will have prizemoney of £25,000 and £15,000 respectively.

Chelmsford City is also looking forward to staging the final leg of the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Cardinal Stakes, on Thursday, March 31. With the meeting having been lost during racing’s Covid shutdown in 2020, this is only the third running of the conditions race run over a mile, which this year carries prize-money of £100,000.

The Good Friday card on April 15 is worth a total of £112,000 across seven races, including a £30,000 Class 2 tenfurlong handicap.

On Sunday, July 3 the Listed Queen

Charlotte Fillies’ Stakes will be run for £100,000.

Chelmsford City’s Director of Racing Neil Graham said: “It has long been our desire to improve the quality of racing on offer at Chelmsford, as well as ensuring decent returns for the owners, trainers and jockeys who support our racecourse week in and week out.

“The Queen Charlotte is one of two Listed races that we are proud to stage at the track, and we are thrilled to be

offering a very valuable pot this year. The same goes for the Cardinal Stakes, which is clearly not just an important steppingstone for connections who may have their sights set on Churchill Downs, but also offers a great trial opportunity for our Classics closer to home.

“We look forward to welcoming entries for both races, as well as for our regular cards throughout the year.”

Winning owners at Chelmsford now also receive a TV-in a card memento.

Making Tax Digital: the final furlong With only one month left until HM Revenue & Customs Making Tax Digital comes into effect on April 1, what does this mean for you as a VAT-registered owner?

From April 1, all VAT-registered businesses must sign up to Making Tax Digital, irrelevant of their taxable turnover.

VAT returns must be submitted via MTD compliant accounting or bridging software, and VAT records must be kept digitally.

ROA VAT Solution launched in the summer of 2021 to provide a bespoke VAT service for racehorse owners. The team are here to take the digital and administrative burden of submitting quarterly VAT returns off your hands, providing you with more time to enjoy the sport you love.

Whether you require a new VAT registration or would like us to take over your VAT submissions, we are here to help with: Standard quarterly VAT returns for all ownership types; Profit & loss reporting, including partnership breakdowns; Financial reporting options are also compliant with the BHA Syndicate Code of Conduct requirements.

ROA VAT Solution has you covered. Whatever your individual requirements, we have a solution for everyone.

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Glen Hillsmith and Davina Grewal manage ROA Vat Solution

To sign up please download and complete a copy of our digital agent flyer and return to vat@roa.co.uk or complete our online agent flyer www.roa.co.uk/vat/agent-flyer-onlineform. One of our dedicated VAT team will then take care of everything else.

For any owners wanting to use ROA VAT Solution once their pre-MTD has been filled with HMRC, this isn’t a problem.

Simply complete our agent flyer with a note detailing the date when you would like our service to begin, and we’ll take care of the rest.

If you have any queries or would like further information, please email our VAT team at vat@roa.co.uk, or call 01183 385685 to speak to Davina or Glen.

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

Problems for Non Domiciled Owners UK taxation is notoriously complicated and not least in the area of the taxation of people living in the UK who have a tax domicile outside of the UK. This article is aimed at pointing out the issues to breeders and owners rather than giving detailed advice on the convoluted rules relating to the taxation of people who are resident in the UK but do not have a tax domicile here – colloquially known as Resident Non Doms (RNDs).

The rules apply to someone who, for example, was of Hong Kong parentage and background but moved to live in the UK within the last 10 years.

The immediate reaction is to ask what this has to do with breeding or racing?

Over the last 15 years the rules relating to bringing in funds and assets have changed. It has always been the case that capital accumulated when the RND was non resident can be brought into the UK free of tax.

Before 6 April 2008 an RND did not need to pay tax on money earned outside of the UK which was not bought into the UK. The rules started to become more onerous but until 2012 it was possible to bring assets into the UK without paying tax in the UK. Thus a RND could bring in a horse, have it trained in the UK and then sell it outside the UK without paying any tax.

It was also quite possible to make sure training fees could be paid without an onerous tax charge.

In 2012 the rules became more onerous with the introduction of tax on assets, including horses, bought into the UK. Historically, it was perfectly legitimate to use companies and other means to make sure training fees were funded in a tax efficient manner. The rules have changed so this is no longer possible.

It used to be that the non domicile status was retained for life in respect of taxation (with the exception of Inheritance tax) as long as the person did not decide to settle permanently in the UK and acquire a UK domicile of choice.

From 2017, a person effectively becomes domiciled in the UK for all tax purposes once they have been resident for 15 out of the last 20 years.

A horse can be bought into the UK for 275 days over its lifetime without giving rise to a charge to tax.

Consequently, an RND owner can have a horse trained in Ireland and, provided it does not spend more than 275 days in the UK over its lifetime, there will be no charge to tax on its importation.

The same applies to horses bought into the UK to be covered by a stallion standing in the UK. The risks to the British Thoroughbred industry as the result of these rules are obvious.

Business Investment Relief There is a potential solution for breeders in the form of Business Investment Relief (BIR), which was introduced in 2012. RNDs can invest in BIR companies, which can be owned 100% by the RND, who will not be taxable on the funds brought into the UK to invest in the BIR company, provided specific rules are met.

The policy decision behind the introduction of BIR was to encourage foreign money to come into the UK and be used to generate profits subject to corporation tax.

The BIR company has to be run commercially with a view to profit and so the normal rules apply in that the stud business has to have good enough mares such that it is capable of making a profit.

One problem with BIR companies is that profits from racing are not normally taxable in the UK. Consequently, HMRC will not allow BIR for a company whose business relates to owning and running or leasing horses in training as profits relating to horses in training are not normally subject to corporation tax.

ADVERTORIAL FEATURE

Like most areas of tax law there are shades of grey and it may be possible to make a genuine business case for a company that races home bred fillies before putting them in foal.

Needless to say, the BIR legislation is complex, so there are plenty of details that need consideration.

One big advantage of the BIR legislation is that it is possible to apply for HMRC clearance

before bringing the money into the UK and making the investment into the BIR company.

Applying for clearance is inherently a straightforward process but requires a lot of thought and preparation. The clearance application should be prepared with the benefit of a detailed business plan showing how the objectives of the company will be met.

Summary Continuous changes to the rules surrounding the taxation of RNDs have made it much more difficult for RND owners to have horses trained in the UK, putting UK trainers at a competitive disadvantage.

It may be possible to take advantage of the specific reliefs available but it requires effort to access the reliefs and vigilance to make sure the rules to preserve the relief are not breached.

Penelope Lang Partner, Smith & Williamson LLP t: 01722 431 064 e: penelope.lang@smithandwilliamson.com

smithandwilliamson.com By necessity, this briefing can only provide a short overview and it is essential to seek professional advice before applying the contents of this article. No responsibility can be taken for any loss arising from action taken or refrained from on the basis of this publication. Tax legislation is that prevailing at the time, is subject to change without notice and depends on individual circumstances. Clients should always seek appropriate tax advice from their financial adviser before making financial decisions. The value of an investment may go down as well as up and you may get back less than you originally invested Smith & Williamson LLP Regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of investment business activities. A member of Nexia International, a leading, global network of independent accounting and consulting firms. Please see https://nexia.com/member-firm-disclaimer/ for further details. 22028299. © Tilney Smith & Williamson Limited 2022.

TBA Forum

The special section for TBA members

Exciting Constitution Hill takes Grade 1 honours A Constitution Hill (right): high-class performer

BILL SELWYN

wide-margin novice hurdle win at Sandown Park on Tingle Creek Chase day preceded Constitution Hill’s attempt to land the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle back at the Esher track just after New Year. The Sally Noott-bred son of Blue Bresil did not disappoint. Jumping with fluency, the five-year-old went to the front two from home and soon powered away to record a 12-length win.

Constitution Hill is the first foal out of Queen Of The Stage, a daughter of King’s Theatre, whose own exploits for trainer/ owner Jane Williams included a third in the Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park when it was staged as a Listed contest seven years ago.

The same day and Martello Sky put up an impressive win in the Listed Mares’ Hurdle over two and a half miles. The grey, who was bred by the late Tim Wood and is owned by a syndicate which includes a number of his family, showed a smart turn of foot before the last and recorded a one and three-quarter length win.

Archie Watson is best known as a Flat trainer but he will be represented by Stag Horn at the Cheltenham Festival after the son of Golden Horn put in a brave front-running display to land the Grade 2 Leamington Novices’ Hurdle at Warwick.

A week later and there was Grade 2 success for the Keith and Dean Pugh homebred Molly Ollys Wishes. The daughter of Black Sam Bellamy, who had previously twice scored in Listed company, was gaining her biggest day in the Warfield Mares’ Hurdle.

The final weekend of the month witnessed Trials Day at Cheltenham and Pied Piper, a son of New Approach and bred by The Queen, firmly put himself into the reckoning for the Triumph Hurdle with a bloodless display in the Grade 2 Triumph

Trial Juvenile Hurdle.

The first day of the year at Prestbury Park and the concluding race of the day, the Listed Pony Club ‘Junior’ NHF Race, was won by the Fergal O’Brien-trained Poetic Music, who was bred by H and V Pratt.

Another Listed triumph during January was that of Pink Legend in the Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase. Francis Mahon’s homebred daughter of Midnight Legend was adding to a previous black-type success, having won the Listed EBF Finale at Cheltenham last April.

The Dubai Carnival at Meydan got underway and progeny of Dubawi came

to the fore. Naval Crown, fourth in last season’s Group 1 2,000 Guineas, took the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort, while fellow Godolphin homebred Dubai Future won the Listed Dubai Racing Club Classic by over five lengths. Completing the trio of stakes winners for the Dalham Hallbased stallion was Siskany, another bred

by Godolphin, who landed the Listed Al Khail Trophy. He easily captured the one mile six furlong event by five and a half lengths.

Meanwhile, the Listed Zabeel Turf was won in good style by Star Safari.

Results up to and including January 31.

Produced in association with GBRI.

Save the date – NH Breeders’ Awards Evening The TBA NH Breeders’ Awards Evening will take place on Monday, May 16. Once again held at the Hilton Garden Inn, the celebratory affair will take place on the first evening of the Goffs UK Spring Store Sale.

The event, kindly sponsored by Goffs UK, will both celebrate and reward British-bred successes on the racecourse in the 2021-22 National Hunt season.

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Owners, breeders, trainers and National Hunt enthusiasts are invited to attend what is always an entertaining event, which will commence with a drinks reception and dinner, followed by the presentation of the awards.

Tickets for the event can be purchased by members on the TBA website, where there is further information on the evening and awards.

Nigel Elwes

Nigel Elwes: championed education

Former Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Chairman Nigel Elwes died aged 80 just before Christmas. Nigel, who was a former highly successful stockbroker and retired at the age of 50, was the TBA’s Chairman between 1997 and 2003.

Highly regarded, he championed the education and training aspects of the association, including the courses linked to the National Stud.

Known as a man who put many hours into making the industry as a whole a better environment, Nigel was also a trustee of the British Racing School from 1992, including a spell as Chairman. It was in 1992 that he also became one of the founding trustees of Racing Welfare and was Chairman from 2000 until 2008.

A former trustee of the British European Breeders’ Fund, a Director at Kempton Park and Sandown Park, and a member of the Jockey Club since 2003, Nigel was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list in 2008 for services to the horseracing industry. He was quoted as having been flabbergasted at receiving the accolade.

In terms of breeding, Nigel, along with his wife Carolyn, bred in the name of Aylesfield Farm Stud. Amongst those who the pair bred included Simona, a daughter of Siyouni, who won the 2020 running of the Group 3 Prix Exbury.

Previous to this, Listed successes had come from the likes of Lingfield Oaks Trial Stakes winner Santa Sophia, a daughter of Linamix, who went on to produce the stakes-placed duo of Sibilance and Testudo, and the Italian Listed winner Green Room (In The Wings).

The TBA is grateful to Nigel for his service to not only the association but also to the wider racing and breeding community.

Racecourse Badge Scheme for Breeders Do you feel you have lost touch with horses you bred and would like to know where they are entered to run? By signing up to the Racecourse Badge Scheme for Breeders (RBSB) members can receive text or email alerts notifying entries, declarations and wins. The alerts will also advise if complimentary badges for the fixture are available If you are new to the scheme and do not currently have a card, any form of photo ID will be accepted at the PASS

Fast-track foal registration Weatherbys is offering its fast-track service once again this year for passports which are required for foals travelling from Britain into the European Union.

Markings, blood DNA sample and microchip must be completed by the vet at the earliest opportunity and the envelope labelled FAST TRACK. The online foal registration must then be processed and the appropriate payment made.

Contact the Stud Book Department at Weatherbys (01933 440077 or studbook@weatherbys.co.uk) and advise that the passport is awaited urgently and if possible state the desired date of travel.

entrances, which are usually located at the owners & trainers desk.

You can download an application form and check which fixtures are offering complimentary access by visiting the Events and Badges section on the membership benefits page on the Join Us section of the TBA website at thetba.co.uk.

Alternatively, email alix.jones@thetba.co.uk or call the office on 01638 661 321.

REGIONAL DAYS ARE BACK – dates for your diary Plans are well underway for the return of the ever-popular regional days which will run in each of the seven regions. With a minimum of two visits plus a leisurely lunch these days are a great way for members to catch up with old and new acquaintances, as well as having the opportunity to see behind the scenes at some of the most renowned studs and trainers' yards. Full details will be released along with dates for the other four destinations in the fortnightly e-bulletins.

Tuesday, May 10 – West Wednesday, June 22 – South East Tuesday, June 28 – East

THE OWNER BREEDER

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TBA Forum

NH sires showcased at Doncaster Masterstroke, sire of Group/Grade 2 winners both on the Flat and over jumps, Arrigo, the half-brother to Adlerflug, and Pether’s Moon, who is already responsible for the Auteuil Listed-placed Anneloralas.

The first jumps runners are eagerly awaited in 2023 for Jack Hobbs, Overbury Stud’s dual Group 1-winning son of Halling, while Nunstainton Stud resident Dragon Dancer’s first British crop have just turned three.

Galileo’s Irish Classic-winning son Flag Of Honour has just started his third season at the National Stud, whilst Diplomat has just embarked on his second season at LM Stallions.

Completing the line up was the Peel Hall Stud-based Frammassone, the triple Grade 1-winning hurdler.

The TBA would like to extend its thanks to Goffs UK and the studs and stallion owners who helped to make the day such a success.

garnered plenty of inspections and was joined at the event by fellow Chapel Stud residents Planteur and Walzertakt. The latter, a son of Montjeu, joined the Worcestershire-based stud ahead of this covering season.

New to Britain for 2022 is Leading Light, the St Leger and Gold Cupwinning son of Montjeu, who has relocated to Dunraven Stud in South Wales for this season.

Dink, who stands at the Skelton family’s Alne Park Stud, made the move from France last year. The son of Poliglote was a Classic winner in his native Spain and is responsible for top-class two-mile chaser Nube Negra.

Yorton Farm brought four of its six stallions to the event, including Gentlewave. The Italian Classic scorer is responsible for Cheltenham Festival winner Easysland, as well as several promising Irish point-to-pointers in recent months. He was joined by

NIGEL KIRBY

The NH Stallion Showcase made a welcome return to the association’s events calendar this year. Held on the opening day of the Goffs UK January Sale at the Goffs UK sales complex in Doncaster, the event proved to be extremely popular.

Supported by Goffs UK, the event gave breeders the opportunity to view several exciting jumps stallions and discuss nominations with stud representatives. In total 17 stallions were on show.

The event proved the ideal opportunity for breeders to see first and second season stallions for the first time in the flesh, and amongst the trio of Shade Oak Stud stallions was Logician, a son of Frankel and winner of the Group 1 St Leger in 2019. The trio was completed by young stallions Dartmouth and Telescope.

The other new stallion to stud in 2022 is Bangkok. The son of Australia

First-season sire and Group 2 winner Bangkok NIGEL KIRBY

Telescope, dual Group 2 winner and Shade Oak Stud resident

Flag Of Honour is covering his third book of mares this year 78

THE OWNER BREEDER

Former Group 1 Coronation Cup hero Pether's Moon

NIGEL KIRBY

NIGEL KIRBY

NIGEL KIRBY

Jack Hobbs, whose oldest crop are three

Runner-up in the Derby, Dragon Dancer's first British foals have just turned three

NIGEL KIRBY

NIGEL KIRBY

NIGEL KIRBY

Planteur, sire of Trueshan, the dual Group 1 winner last season

New to Britain for 2022 is the dual Group 1 winner Leading Light

NIGEL KIRBY

Shade Oak Stud resident Dartmouth, whose oldest crop have turned three

NIGEL KIRBY

Sire of Nube Negre, the Spanish Classic hero Dink

NIGEL KIRBY

Group 2 winner Arrigo who is covering his second British crop of mares this spring

NIGEL KIRBY

Sire of Cheltenham Festival winner Easysland, Gentlewave

Twice a Group 2 winner on the Flat, Diplomat was also a winner over jumps at Auteuil

NIGEL KIRBY

Group 2 winner Walzertakt has made the move to Chapel Stud for 2022

The St Leger hero of 2019 Logician will stand his first season at Shade Oak Stud in 2022

NIGEL KIRBY

NIGEL KIRBY

Members inspect the sires on show

Triple Grade 1-winning hurdler Frammassone

Sire of Grade 1 performer Hades, Masterstroke

THE OWNER BREEDER

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TBA Forum

Flat stallions star at Tattersalls A full compliment of 12 stallions were on show at the TBA’s Flat Stallion Parade, which took place before the Tattersalls February Sale on Thursday, February 3. The event once again proved popular and gave breeders the opportunity to see first-, second- and third-season sires. Commentaries in the ring were provided by Gina Bryce and Shirley Anderson-Jolag.

First season sires on show were triple Group 2 winner A’Ali, Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes hero Ubettabelieveit, Group 2 York Stakes hero Bangkok, the Group 3 winner and multiple Group 1-placed Lope Y Fernandez, the stakes-winning and Group 1-placed Roseman, and the Qatar stakes scorer Mr Scaramanga.

Second-season sires included Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes hero Without Parole, Group 3 Cornwalis Stakes winner

Sergei Prokofiev, the American Grade 3 scorer Legends Of War, the stakes winner and 2,000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win, and the Royal Ascot Listed hero Southern Hills.

Completing the line up was thirdseason sire Diplomat, a dual Group 2 winner on the continent over a mile.

Following the parade, breeders were invited to view the stallions in both Left and Right Yards where stud representatives were on hand to discuss mating enquiries for the forthcoming season, and the TBA provided complimentary refreshments from the hospitality box.

The TBA would like to thank all who supported the parade, with special recognition to the stallion handlers, the stud farms, Tattersalls, Weatherbys, Gina Bryce and Shirley Anderson-Jolag.

All photos by Adam Smyth

Teofilo’s son Diplomat, the dual Group 2-winning miler

The American Grade 3-winning son of Scat Daddy, Legends Of War

A son of Sir Percy is the six-time winner Mr Scaramanga

A triple Group 2-winning son of Society Rock is Newsells Park Stud’s newcomer A’Ali

The six-time winner, including of a Group 2 last season, Bangkok

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National Stud resident Lope Y Fernandez proved a popular attraction

March Hare Stud’s Roseman, the stakes-winning Group 1-placed son of Kingman

The 2,000 Guineas runner-up Tip Two Win, a son of Dark Angel

Royal Ascot Listed hero and March Hare Stud-based Southern Hills

Whitsbury Manor Stud’s Sergei Prokofiev, the Cornwallis Stakeswinning son of Scat Daddy

Winner of the Flying Childers Stakes, Ubettabelieveit

Frankel’s son Without Parole, winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes

THE OWNER BREEDER

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Breeder of the Month Words Howard Wright

Sponsored by

Manufacturers of

BREEDER OF THE MONTH (January 2022)

SALLY NOOTT

BILL SELWYN

“A revelation... so laid-back he was horizontal... but things changed dramatically when we worked him” - so said Nicky Henderson after Constitution Hill had retained his unbeaten record after two runs by winning the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown, which has earned Sally Noott her nomination as TBA Breeder of the Month for January.

Noott recognises the champion jumps trainer’s observations, saying: “Constitution Hill was very laid-back as a foal. In fact, the mother, Queen Of The Stage, was quite quirky but she’s calmed down now and all her foals have been quite chilled.

“For instance, I loaned another horse to run with Queen Of The Stage’s third foal, a beautiful filly whom we sadly we lost at the start of lockdown, and while the other one would do laps round the field, my filly would just stand there, thinking to herself, ‘Well, I’m not wasting my energy doing that.’”

Although Noott, who lives in the Worcestershire village of Belbroughton, 16 miles from Birmingham, used to ride as a child, she is a relatively late entrant to thoroughbred racing and breeding.

Husband Philip, who has run his own property development and investment company since 1997, bought her first horse, Golden Duck, whom she raced in partnership with daughter Isobel, in 2004.

After two wins for original trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, Golden Duck went on to notch a further two from three outings with Nick Williams in Devon and so started an association that brings

Constitution Hill (right): bred by Sally Noott out of Queen Of The Stage

Constitution Hill into the picture.

Noott picks up the story, saying: “When we refurbished our stables, I thought I’d like to have a go at breeding, which was when Nick got me my first two broodmares, Oeuvre Vive, who had retired from racing, and Cap Soleil, a yearling who went into training with Fergal O’Brien and won five of her 11 races.”

When Noott wanted a third mare, Williams recommended Queen Of The Stage, who had been campaigned to give stepdaughter Lizzie Kelly experience, as an ideal recruit when she finished her racing career. Noott says: “All credit to Nick, who’s really hot on his breeding, because he suggested we send Queen Of The Stage to Blue Bresil, and that’s how Constitution Hill was born.”

Not surprisingly, Queen Of The Stage is heading back to Blue Bresil, after two visits to Jack Hobbs during lockdown.

Noott says: “It was hard to travel mares, so I sent three of my four mares to Jack Hobbs. The other mare went to Ireland, only because Nick Williams was

prepared to travel her with one of his own mares.”

In keeping with Noott’s policy to sell her colts while retaining fillies for breeding, two of her first Jack Hobbs ‘lockdown’ produce went to the Goffs UK sale in Doncaster in January as part of a three-strong batch of yearlings prepared at nearby Throckmorton Stud, from where, she says: “Simon Balding has guided me through everything.”

The exception, a Diamond Boy colt out of Cap Soleil, fetched £35,000, while Constitution Hill’s June-foaled half-sister made £50,000. The third lot, by Jack Hobbs out of Oeuvre Vive, was retained for £8,000.

Noott says: “I’ve usually got good money for Oeuvre Vive’s foals, but this one is pigeon-toed. I came back from Doncaster a bit deflated because I’ve never bought a horse back before.

Anyway, he’s been gelded and is back home. I’ll probably keep him until he’s three and then see how he goes.”

With her broodmare band, including first-time breeder Genial Hawkstone, due to foal in the next two months, Noott has plenty to look forward to, made all the more interesting by the prospect of Constitution Hill going to Cheltenham.

“I’m absolutely thrilled at the way he has progressed,” Noott says. “I could have hung on to him, but I made the choice to sell. It’s problematic for a small breeder, because you’ve got all the vet’s bills if anything goes wrong in a field. So, I decided to cut my losses and sold him as a foal for €16,500.

“But I still feel as if Constitution Hill is mine, even if he’s not, and fingers are definitely crossed for Cheltenham. How exciting!”

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THE OWNER BREEDER

GBB – The real deal for owners Don’t miss out! Breed, buy and race British fillies

Wheel of fortune More than £4 million paid out in more than 300 races.

Owner 5%

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Trainer Jockey Stable staff

21% 65%

We were delighted to discover that our homebred mare, SWINCOMBE FLEAT, had won a £10,000 GBB bonus at Exeter. She was actually registered with NH MOPS and – thankfully – carried over to GBB when it launched, so it was a bit of a surprise to hear the news. As owner-breeders, a GBB win makes a real difference and encourages us to keep going. As a result of the generous GBB payments, we have decided to find another mare to race.

Mr & Mrs M. C. Yeo, owner and breeder of multiple-bonus winner SWINCOMBE FLEAT. GBB Jumps winners:

112

GBB Jumps bonus payments:

GBB Flat winners:

209

£1,352,375 For more information on eligibility, visit greatbritishbonus.co.uk

GBB Flat bonus payments:

Total bonus payments:

£4.45m

£3,098,500 Information correct at time of going to press

Vet Forum: The Expert View

SIZE REALLY DOES MATTER: nutrition and maintenance of the mare and stallion for optimum reproductive health

P

reparation and nutritional maintenance of both the broodmare and stallion are vitally important to maximise reproductive performance. Furthermore, recent advances in the study of epigenetics – how behaviours and environment can influence the way genes work – have shown us that it is not only the environment that the embryo and fetus develop within but also the egg prior to conception. Therefore, producing the mare in optimum health prior to breeding is crucial.

Nutrient requirements for non-pregnant mares are the same as for adult horses at maintenance that are not in exercise.

Individual variations occur between horses that are ‘good-doers’ and ‘poordoers’ but there is no requirement to feed extra in order for a mare to be bred.

In fact, anecdotally in practice, it is often the mares that arrive at stud slightly underconditioned, and subsequently receive an increasing plane of nutrition into the breeding season, that cycle earlier in the year than those maintained at a good or even higher plane of nutrition throughout the year. This was demonstrated in cattle, where animals that achieved puberty earlier were the animals fed on an increasing plane of nutrition rather than the animals fed to achieve a set body weight.

Research in other species has also shown the influence that the hormone leptin, produced by adipocytes (fat cells), can have on reproductive hormone production in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, therefore indicating the direct involvement of nutrition on reproductive status. It would also make sense that, in nature, the initiation of cycling occurs in the spring, and although this is largely linked to increasing day length, it is also during a time of increasing nutritional value in the grass.

Nature dictates that a mare should breed at a time when the best conditions are available for conception and eventual survival of the foal. Mares with a low body condition score at the onset of the breeding season may begin to cycle

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JUDDMONTE

The mare

The perfect result: Enable and her first foal, a colt by Kingman

later in the spring, require more services per conception, and have a lower overall conception rate. As a result, body condition scoring (BCS) of prospective broodmares should take place prior to the breeding season in order for adjustments to be made. Mares should be BCS 5/9 at the time of breeding (see table).

Low BCS can also influence the vulval conformation of the mare. The vulval seal is the first line of defence

Figure 1 Lack of subcutaneous fat can result in poor apposition of the vulva, and subsequent uterine contamination

against infection tracking into the uterus.

Normal vulval conformation consists of a vertical vulva with greater than 70% of the length below the pelvic brim.

Vulvas that appear to tilt backwards towards the anus, or mares that appear to have a sunken anus, have a reduced seal between the vulva, resulting in the aspiration of air and associated bacteria and debris that can contaminate the uterus. This leads to endometritis and reduced conception rates as well as infection of the placenta once pregnancy has been established.

Vulval conformation is in part supported by subcutaneous fat pads either side of the vulva, therefore underweight mares can have poor vulval conformation due to a reduction in this fat deposition.

Muscle development also plays a vital role in maintenance of the conformation of the reproductive tract. Mares with poor muscle development will often also present with poor vulval conformation, as the support for vulva and vagina is not as established as it should be. Mares with poor hindlimb muscle development can also present with urine pooling as the reproductive tract is not supported, and therefore sits at a lower position in the abdomen, encouraging urine to flow backwards with gravity towards the uterus, rather than being voided out of

By Sarah Moore BVetMed CertAVP(ESM) MRCVS the vulva. These mares can also present with both pre- and post-breeding uterine fluid, as uterine contractions cannot sufficiently expel the fluid out of the cervix against gravity. Identification of these mares early in the breeding season can allow an introduction of a daily exercise routine in order to improve musculature in the hindlimbs.

In extreme circumstances, undernutrition during gestation has been shown to have lifelong effects in humans. Children and their subsequent grandchildren, born during the Dutch Famine in 1944-45 who were exposed to famine for up to six months during gestation, had a higher susceptibility to a subset of diseases, including schizophrenia, stress sensitivity and obesity. The long-term effect is dependant upon which stage of gestation the alteration in nutrition is experienced, and what organ system is developing at that time.

Increased BCS or fat broodmares can also cause a problem with reproductive function. It is advised that mares do not exceed BCS 7/9 prior to breeding. When compared to normal weight horses, obesity alters the fat content of the oocyte (egg). In a study investigating embryos collected from both normal and obese mares, embryos from obese mares were shown to have altered transcription of genes for inflammation and lipid metabolism and showed signs of oxidative and mitochondrial stress.

Epigenetic studies in mice have shown that obesity in the dam can have longlasting implications in the health of the offspring, including cardiovascular and metabolic dysfunction.

In cattle, in-vitro produced embryos cultured in a high-fat environment were shown to develop into fetuses with lower body weights, reduced liver weights and an increased crown-rump length to weight ratio at 70 days’ gestation after transfer into recipient cows.

Although there is limited work available in horses, the research in humans and other species in this rapidly expanding topic can surely be extrapolated and is relevant to the breeding of horses.

Endometrial biopsies collected from obese mares have also shown an increase in the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, elements of the immune system responsible for inflammation. It is known that insulin resistance, a condition seen with obesity, promotes a generalised proinflammatory state. When it comes to reproduction, this means that the obese broodmare may be more prone to

Figure 2 Epigenetics has recently featured prominently in the mainstream media

post-breeding inflammation including persistent uterine fluid and excessive oedema, and more prone to pregnancyrelated conditions such as placentitis.

Treatments used for other conditions induced by insulin resistance, such as metformin, have not been licensed in pregnant mares, and therefore it is very important to act early and reduce the weight of any obese prospective broodmare prior to the breeding season.

The stallion

As with the broodmare, ‘over condition’ in the stallion can have a huge impact on his ability to breed. Obesity can have a negative impact on behaviour, longevity and libido as well as other characteristics, and this far outweighs any impact of nutrient deficiency.

Stallions should be maintained in athletic condition and should be subject to minimal seasonal changes in body weight. Regular weight checks should enable small changes to be made to feed intake with relation to workload

to maintain the correct weight for that stallion throughout the year.

Stallions that are overweight can also develop fat within the scrotum.

This essentially acts as an insulator for the testicles. Thermoregulation of the testicles is vital for the production of healthy sperm and increased temperatures have been shown to decrease viability, motility and sperm number. Stallion obesity can also predispose to a number of conditions, including laminitis, and exacerbate joint disease such as arthritis.

An exercise regime is important in maintaining a stallion through the season. Exercise improves longevity, attitude and behaviour, and reduces health problems associated with a fat horse. Exercise can include daily riding, hand walking, horse walkers or swimming. Intensity and duration should be determined on an individual basis dependant on temperament, weight management and previous orthopaedic issues.

One small study of five stallions found that high intensity exercise resulted in some morphological defects in the ejaculate but no change in semen concentration or total sperm number.

The results, however, were inconsistent and further work involving a larger study population is required to ascertain whether this reported change is significant.

In practice, a stallion that is fed a balanced diet will rarely experience inadequate levels of vitamins and minerals, and more commonly experience an excess. Few individual vitamin or mineral supplements have been shown to positively affect sperm function. Selenium is an important component in the antioxidant defence within the ejaculate. Oxidative stress is an important factor that negatively

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An exercise regime is important in maintaining a stallion through the covering season

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Vet Forum: The Expert View ›› affects the sperm cell. High numbers

of reactive oxygen species can result in sperm membrane damage, which reduces motility and their ability to fuse with the oocyte as well as causing damage to sperm DNA. There is no evidence that supplementing selenium above and beyond the recommended level for an adult horse has any positive effect on fertility. Supplementation with Vitamin E, also recognised as an antioxidant, showed no significant effect on total and progressive motility of raw or frozenthawed semen.

Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid was shown to have a positive impact on the motility of frozen-thawed semen, but had no impact on the overall quality of fresh semen when compared to control stallions. This is most likely due to a stabilising effect on the lipid membrane of the sperm. The most improvement was seen in stallions that did not tolerate freezing well prior to supplementation. It is unlikely that any significant change would be seen in natural cover stallions.

A combined supplement trial of oral vitamin E, selenium, L-carnitine as antioxidants and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids found significantly increased values of progressive motility and integrity of plasma and acrosomal membranes in frozen semen, possibly due to a synergistic effect of the combined antioxidant and fatty acids.

However, there is no evidence that this would improve parameters in natural cover stallions.

Overall, a diet constituting the advised daily mineral and vitamin requirements for an adult horse should provide all the requirements for reproductive efficiency.

Body Condition Score

Description

1 Poor

Extremely emaciated; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae and ischii projecting prominently; bone structure of withers, shoulders and neck easily noticeable; no fatty tissue can be felt

2 Very thin

Emaciated, slight fat covering over base of spinous processes; transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae and ischii prominent, withers, shoulders and neck structure faintly discernible

3 Thin

Fat build-up hallway on spinous processes; transverse processes cannot be felt; slight fat cover over the ribs, spinous processes and ribs easily discernable; tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be identified visually; tuber coxae appear rounded but easily discernible; tuber ischii not distinguishable; withers, shoulder, and neck not obviously thin

4 Moderately thin

Slight ridge along back; faint outline of ribs discernible; tailhead prominence depends on conformation, fat can be felt around it; tuber coxe not discernible, withers, shoulder and neck not obviously thin

5 Moderate

Back is flat with no crease or ridge; ribs not easily discernible but easily felt; fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy; withers appear rounded over the spinous processes; shoulder and neck blend smoothly into body

6 Moderately fleshy

May have slight crease down the back; fat over the ribs is spongy, fat around the tailhead is soft, fat beginning to be deposited along the side of the withers, behind the shoulders and along the sides of the neck

7 Fleshy

May have a crease down the back; individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat; fat around tailhead soft; fat deposited along withers, behind shoulders and along neck

8 Fat

Crease down the back; difficult to feel the ribs; fat around tailhead very soft; area along withers filled with fat; area behind shoulder filled with fat; noticeable thickening of neck; fat deposited along inner thighs

9 Extremely Fat

Obvious crease down the back; patchy fat appearing over the ribs; bulging fat around tailhead, along withers, behind shoulders and along neck; fat along inner thighs may rub together; flank filled with fat

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22/02/2022 17:56

The Finish Line with Michael Dickinson The ‘mad genius’ Michael Dickinson enjoyed extraordinary success in four seasons training jumpers before a brief but disastrous switch to the Flat at Manton for Robert Sangster. Forty years ago this month, he trained the first two home in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and sent out Badsworth Boy to win the first of three straight Champion Chases. The ‘famous five’ Gold Cup finish came just 12 months later. Since making the move across the Atlantic, he has sent out almost 700 winners in the US, including the recently deceased Da Hoss’s two strikes in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Having taken an eight-year break to promote his Tapeta racing surface, he resumed training in 2016. Life is good, but at 72 he is contemplating returning to his roots.

Interview: Graham Dench

I

trained over jumps in England for only four seasons and I was champion trainer three times, yet I’ve never regretted moving to the States. It is a great country, with lovely people, and I’ve been very happy here. I’d had a marvellous time training from Poplar House, and we were first and second in the Gold Cup in 1982 and had the first five in the race 12 months later. We had three winners there three years running, and we also won three King Georges and three Queen Mother Champion Chases.

But after my year at Manton moving to America wasn’t a difficult decision. At Manton we had an American vet called David Lambert, who said that if I wanted to move, he would send me 12 horses, and that was a fantastic basis for the new career, which I began from Fair Hill in Maryland in 1987.

us down. He wasn’t easy to train but he gave his all and he loved to win. Da Hoss was spoiled but he deserved to be. He loved going out in one of his grass fields with his best friend Boomer for two or three hours every day. He knew he was special, and it was comforting to know he was always well looked after at the Kentucky Horse Park, where he enjoyed a wonderful retirement. We will miss him.

We created Tapeta Farm as a mini Ballydoyle with the help of Nijinksy’s former exercise rider Johnny Bradston.

It’s a 200-acre farm on the northern end of Chesapeake Bay, surrounded by a state park and with 50 acres of turn-out paddocks for the horses. It’s unique – easily the best private training centre in America. It’s a great place to train, but despite having won twice at the Breeders’ Cup and had eight Grade 1 wins with only 40 horses, I gave up my licence in 2007.

Da Hoss was our horse of a lifetime. His second win in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs in 1998, having had just one race in two years, sits right at the top of everything I’ve done. It was harder to train Da Hoss than to have the first five in the Gold Cup, but we all loved him. He brought us so many highs and even with his problems we knew he would never let

GEORGE SELWYN

My wife Joan had been having some concerns about American racing. She wanted help to take Tapeta around the world and that’s why I retired. Joan liked the Tapeta surface I’d been developing but she thought she could do better.

I told her she had better know more about sand, fibres, wax and polymers than anyone else, so she studied hard for several years with masses of new samples, which you can see on our website in row after row of boxes. I called them failures, she called them tests! She came up with Tapeta 10 and that’s what they’ve installed at Newcastle, Southwell and Wolverhampton.

Da Hoss with John Velazquez after his second Breeders’ Cup Mile victory in 1998

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In the USA the revolution against dirt has already started. The racing secretaries are all having trouble filling dirt races. Year after year, several dirt tracks just fall apart without warning. Turf racing is becoming more popular and Tapeta is good for when it rains and they come off the turf.

Having worked for Tapeta Footings for eight years I returned to training in 2016 and I’ve really enjoyed it. I train only for friends now – we’ve had three fillies for George and Julia Strawbridge who have all won Graded stakes races. At present I just have eight horses in training – I turn them out myself early each morning in some lovely fields, which is a big help for their minds, lungs and general health.

Among them is a two-year-old full-brother to the champion 2015 two-year-old Air Force Blue. It’s early days of course, but we are hoping he runs to his pedigree.

I love our trips home to England and I’m very much looking forward to returning to Cheltenham this month, having been forced to miss it last year – like almost everyone else – owing to Covid. It’s very different there now to how it was in my time, but Martin St Quinton and Ian Renton are doing a brilliant job, and it just gets better year after year. I can’t say I study the form, but I read the Racing Post online every day and I watch all the Grade 1s. Not many of those who were involved in my time are still around, but it’s always good to see those that are, along with an exciting bunch of new trainers. As for what’s going to win, you will know better than me. As the old saying goes: “You should never ask a tourist for directions.”

But I can’t see any reason why the Irish dominance won’t continue for a while yet.

I’m 72 now and I think Tapeta Farm will be sold this year. It’s on the market as a training centre and two or three people are interested. If we do sell, we will probably return to England, and we are already looking at houses in Yorkshire. I’ve got two sisters there and two nephews, and Joan has two sisters too. We like Yorkshire, obviously, and it will be good to go back. Don’t be surprised if you see me at Wetherby or York one day, as a spectator only.

Frankel’s Cracksman: the Champion racehorse by the Champion sire.

With first-crop juveniles in training with Champion trainers...

Charlie Appleby (two), Andrew Balding (four), Ralph Beckett, Simon & Ed Crisford (three), André Fabre, John & Thady Gosden (three), Francis-Henri Graffard, William Haggas, Richard Hannon (three), Mark & Charlie Johnston (three), Jean-Claude Rouget (three), David Simcock, Saeed bin Suroor, Archie Watson.

Breeding the future £17,500 Oct 1, SLF Dalham Hall Stud, UK